Amber was born April 28, 1993 in Ogden Utah to Evan and Betty Reif. She spent one year in Utah and then moved to South Florida where her younger brother Austin was later born. Like any two siblings, they shared a strong bond and drove each other crazy. Amber leaves behind many loving family members; her Grandmother Renita Reif, Aunts and Uncles; Heather, Natalee, Sean and Deborah Reif, Mary, Tony and Sheri Rosenberg. As well as her cousins Zach, Destiny, Maya, Madison, Lily, Dorothy, Andy, Josh, Samantha, Lacey, Bradley, Rosie, Faith, Anastazja, Andrick, Asher, and Isaac. She loved her family and her bond with them was priceless.
Amber had a heart for the whole world. A person that made friends anywhere she went, she left a stamp on the hearts of everyone she met and those who came in contact with her will never forget it. She had a love for the ocean, the beach, and all of nature in general. From shells on the beach, to animals on a nature trail, she enjoyed it all. So much did she love the ocean, that she taught her brother Austin how to surf. Her perfect Saturday would have been an acai bowl with the sand between her toes. Amber was the person to always pull friends and family together for game night or visit to the drive-in. Her laugh was contagious, and energy always warm and welcoming. She always wanted to put a smile on those around her.
Amber had a love for children. For a time, Amber worked for Spady Elementary in the after care program where she always had a thoughtful and creative way to engage the little ones. She also spent countless hours tutoring many of her brother’s friends in math, helping them improve grades and test scores. Amber was always determined to make sure they understood and were successful with the content.
For the past 6 years, Amber has been the head coach for Aquacades Synchronized Swimming Summer Camp. Some of the younger athletes came to the camp just to spend time with our mermaid. A talented swimmer herself, Amber was a four-time zone champion in Team, a 2011 Age Group National Champion, and has even traveled to swim in places like Jamaica and Peru. The theme of the 2011 GOLD medal team she was a part of was tigers, which was also her favorite animal. Amber was a motivated, loyal teammate which is a rare and beautiful combination. This was not just in synchro, it was her nature. Her loyalty spread over friends and family.
Fun Facts about Amber:
- She enjoyed dance, travel, and participating in beach clean-ups
- She loved going on mom-daughter adventures or her daddy-daughter dates at Duffy's
- Some of her favorite things were pickles, olives, and Christmas
- She NEVER threw anything away and may have something saved from your first encounter of her
- She loved Disney & Disney Movies, her favorite princess was Rapunzel
- Gave 150% in any task she was given
The Reif family would like to thank you all for your love and support through such a difficult time. Your donations, calls and love are greatly appreciated. We know Amber's memory will live on through all of you.