Grace Louise Carricarte

The community has lost a shining light with the passing of Grace Louise Carricarte, aged 42, who was a resident of Coral Gables. She was one of seven siblings and the daughter of Mike Carricarte and Grace Recio. All who knew Grace understood that she was the purest of hearts and devoted her life to mental health advocacy and education along with making her community an overall better place. After graduating from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy (1999), Grace graduated from Loyola Marymount University in California and went on to earn her Master's Degree in Education, Mental Health Counseling at the University of Miami, finishing with honors. She was a licensed mental health counselor with over 20 years of successful service, starting her career at the Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Family Counseling Services of Greater Miami and ultimately serving well over a decade as the Executive Director of the Ganley Foundation where she worked with schools, communities, workplaces and the general public to provide educational tools and create awareness to help prevent suicide in teenagers and young adults. This included national speaking engagements and multiple television appearances on channels such as CNN, ABC, OWN, ESPN, Fox Sports and PBS, to further extend the reach and impact of their mission. She was also responsible for the passing of a Florida Senate public safety bill CS/HB 7125 which protects vulnerable citizens. Her work throughout her career undoubtedly touched thousands of lives and had a profound impact on the improvement of youth mental health and the education of our communities. Grace was also an editor, writer and contributor to the Coral Gables Magazine under which she published numerous articles that were of importance and enjoyment to her community. She was an avid lover of nature; she was a member of the Coral Gables Garden Club and passionate about the well-being of all animals. She spent numerous hours helping foster and care for species of all types and sizes along with supporting causes that did the same. She deeply cared for her community and its people, particularly children and anyone who needed special care.

Grace was the purest of souls whose sensitivity was channelled into purpose for the importance of helping humankind spread love and healing. She viewed the world as it should be and never accepted the status quo, often springing into action when she felt something was unjust or simply could be done better. She was loved by so many and will always be remembered as a woman who gave all of what she was in bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely. She had a gift for not only enacting change in the greater world but also in making the smallest around her feel seen, celebrated and loved. We love you, Grace. You will forever be in our hearts. You are at peace....