Ormond Beach, FL – It’s been two short months since Michael Alberico passed away.
Setting up for the fundraiser in his name on Saturday, Michael’s mom Barbara Alberico and sister Jennifer Capri automatically assessed the weather conditions to see if it would be suitable for Michael, before reality reminded them why they were there.
So much a part of their everyday lives, it still hasn’t really sunk in yet. Barbara struggles to talk about the loss of her son.
Born with a hereditary degenerative disease that took him at the age of 42 on April 13th, every single day of Michael’s life was lived to the fullest, with his parents Barbara and Robert Alberico, right by his side.
Embracing Life, One Day at a Time
A serious NASCAR fan and local foodie, it was his love of Hawaii and the Ohana spirit of family that was the inspiration behind the pop up fundraiser at the Halifax Plantation Village on Saturday afternoon, led by his 7-year old niece Gianna, the 2020 Florida Cinderella Ambassador for the International Cinderella Scholarship Pageant.
Donning her sash and crown, Gianna worked the tables on the porch of Mezzaluna’s and Bella G’s with poise and grace.
After hosting a toy drive for Wolfson Children’s Hospital a year ago, collecting more than 500 toys and $2,500 in donations, friends and neighbors were no match for her skills as a young entrepreneur and fundraiser. Those only stopping to look or make a donation left with more than a famous Cinotti’s bakery hand-painted Hawaiian cookie inscribed with Michael’s name, in hand.
Among those was neighbor Lisa Schulten, who when all was said and done, took home two original pieces of art, donated by Chelsea London.
Recalling the days spent with the Alberico family, Shulten said it was a deep sense of neighborly love that drew her to help support the fundraiser.
“Michael was a ‘top confidante’. He would let me borrow his mother, and the three of us would sit together and discuss things that were important. Michael kept our secrets,” shared Schulten, with a wistful smile.
“Community is so important. It’s what matters and what we’re here to do. I applaud Jennifer and all she’s done with this shop, it’s beautiful.”
Timed to catch the dinner crowd at Mezzaluna’s, it was owner Gina Di Bitetto’s connection to Michael and his family that made the location in Halifax Plantation Village the perfect place to host the fundraiser while remembering the joy Michael brought into their lives.
“I love everything about this. They’re such a beautiful family, the kids are amazing, and Michael was so special,” said Di Bitetto, owner of the Halifax location Mezzaluna’s Pizzeria, who always had his Pepsi and ravioli ready for him.
“I always knew exactly what he wanted. Then he had to have his cheesecake,” she said. “They’re such an amazing family, I would do anything for them.”
Stories like Di Bitetto’s are common throughout Flagler and Volusia counties according to Michael’s mother Barbara, where the young man was treated like red carpet royalty at all of his favorite places.
“It’s nothing that I wouldn’t expect. We’re a very close family, we’re Italian, and Michael was the center of it all,” shared his mother.
Even while wheelchair bound, Barbara says Michael was always out and about.
“He was known in the community. We’d go beachside they’d know him, and the community was always accepting of him. It was amazing,” she said, sharing places he loved to frequent like The Net by George, Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill, and Mezzaluna’s.
“He couldn’t do anything, but he was so happy,” she said. “He just embraced life.”
Carrying On the Legacy
Laid to rest in Chicago where the family is from, Michael’s legacy is being carried on by his sister Jennifer’s children through the “Moring Star School Ohana Fundraiser in Memory of Michael Alberico”.
Jennifer’s oldest son Anthony has special needs, and while living in Ormond Beach discovered the Morning Star School in Jacksonville. As part of the Diocese of St. Augustine, the accredited school addresses the 12-year old’s educational needs, and Capri has watched her son blossom, while attending Morning Star School.
Wanting to give back while navigating the overwhelming grief their family has experienced with the loss of Michael, the family launched the Ohana Fundraiser in his name, to benefit Morning Star’s capital campaign to create a Therapeutic Sensory Room.
It’s just the start of what they hope will morph into an annual scholarship in his name.
“We did raise almost $1,000 through our direct fundraising on Facebook in almost 3 days, which is so amazing,” said Capri, who estimates there is an overall goal of $6,000.
“It would be great to end up about $1,500 to put towards it,” she said. “We’re leaving it open for the month of June. My brother’s birthday was June 7th, so we joke and say he celebrated for the entire month, so we celebrate him for the entire month.”
Family Is Forever
After several trips to the Hawaiian Islands, the last one in 2014, illness took Michael before he could return with his family. But his love of Ohana is what the Alberico family keeps in their hearts as they begin the healing process, for the second time.
“I had an older brother with the same disease and he passed when I was much younger. God bless my parents, because they’ve been through this twice,” said Capri.
“Working on this makes you feel good. The healing process and having his memory live on is really what we want,” she said.
“I can’t continue to stress how happy and what joy and love of life he had. Michael embraced every single day as a gift, and it’s so important for us to get up in the morning and just live life. We just all loved him so much.”
“It’s the Ohana theme, the family theme. That’s what we keep going back to because Michael was our family, Morning Star’s our family and the same for Gianna, being part of the Cinderella Pageant,” said Capri.
“My brother taught them so much about living life to the fullest and giving. Even though he was bound by a wheelchair, he did so much. This is a way to honor my brother. He was such a special person.”
Featured Photo: Bella G’s and Mezzaluna Pizzaria at Halifax Plantation Village owner Gina Di Bitetto provided space for the family of Michael Alberico to host the Ohana Fundraiser on Saturday evening to benefit Morning Star School in Jacksonville, in Michael’s name. From left, Gina Di Bitetto, Jennifer Capri, Barbara Alberico, John Schulten, Lisa Schulten. Front row: Gianna Capri and Bobby Capri.
