Michael Moya del Pino

Michael Moya del Pino, aged 19 years, of Saint Johns, Florida, died tragically on the evening of Tuesday, April 29, 2025. He was born in San Diego, California, to Nicolas and Brittany Moya del Pino. He was an employee at Lowe's, working diligently to save money and gain knowledge about the trades. He was registered to begin his college career in business this autumn at UNF, having earned a full-tuition Bright Futures scholarship.

Michael spent his life moving around the United States, accompanying his family as his father made a career in the Navy. Five years in San Diego were followed by four years in Maryland, then three years in Hawaii, three years in Florida, two years in Virginia, and these final three years back to his family's adoptive home of Saint Johns. This pattern of moving brought many adventures and advantages to Michael, a gifted student with an extraordinary memory and amazing capacity for creativity. He learned to play the drums and practice karate, hiked across lava fields, climbed mountains, visited all the monuments and museums at the National Mall, took surfing lessons, competed in team rowing on the St. Johns River and in basketball on the High School and playground courts of Northern Virginia, and he consistently surprised his science and language arts teachers, because he already knew so much of what they were trying to teach him. An early love of reading and wonderful ability to retain knowledge can lead to that result. But the repeated moves also caused many challenges. He consistently searched for the social ease that one needs in order to easily make new friends with each of these long-distance moves.

When Michael returned to Saint Johns as a Junior at Bartram High School, he leapt into digital music production using Fruit Loop Studio, making the contemporary urban music he loved and building on his background in percussion. Self-taught, he devoted his time to creating original complex background works that blend percussion, string instruments, piano, and more. He dreamed of making a career as a professional music producer. He spent hours each day composing. He found a circle of friends in Saint Johns and Jacksonville who shared his passion for music, and much of their time together was spent creating songs or music videos. His parents supported him in this art while urging him to attend college, sharing the expectation that he would continue to blossom into the richness of adult life. He was on that path until Tuesday evening, when something went horribly wrong.

Michael is survived by his parents: Nicolas and Brittany Moya del Pino; his sisters, Katherine, 15, and Natalie, 6; his grandmother, Anne Moya del Pino, and grandmother, Paula Conetta; his aunt, Kristen Saylor; his uncles, Brandon Conetta and Dustin Saylor; his cousins, Rhylin and Layne Saylor, and a host of extended family and friends, many of whom are flying to Jacksonville to reunite with his immediate family during this difficult time. His parents are so grateful for their love and support.

The Moya del Pino family will receive friends between 5-7 PM, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Hardage-Giddens St Johns Funeral Home, located at 1285 St Johns Parkway, St Johns, FL, where there will be opportunity for remembrance, viewing of Michael's handsome face, and photos of his many adventures. The Funeral Mass will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church, 1718 Florida 13, Jacksonville, FL 32259, and all are invited. Michael was a beautiful, fantastic person who made a lasting impression on so many friends, coworkers, fellow students, teachers, clergy, and coaches. His parents are incredibly proud to have him in their lives. They would like to see the faces of others who knew him and loved him, as well. An escorted funeral procession will follow to the burial site at St Joseph's Cemetery, on Old St Augustine Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32258. A reception will follow back at San Juan del Rio Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers or food donations, the family would be immeasurably blessed by donations made in Michael's name to Community Cenacolo, an organization that serves young adults who are struggling with life in today's culture, whether from drugs and alcohol, screen addiction, or some other spiritual darkness. They heal people and give them a new vision of community, and they do this all at no expense to the men and women they accept as residents, nor to their families. Community Cenacolo operates entirely through God's providence, without any budgetary contribution from the Catholic dioceses where they operate. If you'd like, take time to read more about Cenacolo and find the link to donate here: https://www.hopereborn.org And please tell everyone you know about Cenacolo, because so many people in the world today would benefit tremendously from their help.