The father of a teenager who tragically died in a boating accident last weekend wrote in a heartbreaking letter that he and his wife always say their daughter “brought out the best in both of them.”
Matthew Adler’s message was read Monday at the Miami funeral of 15-year-old Ella Riley Adler. Rabbi Jonathan Berkun, who led the service, called Ella “a star, a force of nature.”
‘You were taken too soon and the world has been stripped of all the things you could have achieved. But you will always be here with us and your friends and family will carry your energy and your spirit forever,’ he added.
Mourners have been remembering Ella, the granddaughter of U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Michael Adler, as a prodigious dancer who one day aspired to become president of the United States.
In the wake of his death Saturday, Florida officials are offering a $20,000 reward leading to information about his killer.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Ella died Saturday while being towed by a boat after water skiing at Nixon Beach in Key Biscayne when she was struck by a boat, which quickly fled the scene of the tragedy.
Ella’s (center) devastated family described her as a “force of nature” who “loved to dance,” and was a celebrated local dancer with the Miami City Ballet.
Ella’s coffin is seen being carried by members of the temple.
Friends and family attended Ella’s funeral Monday morning at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach.
Police searched marinas near the hit-and-run scene on Monday, but have not yet located the boater. The authorities are offering a reward of $20,000 to anyone who can provide information about the person who ran over the teenager with her boat and fled.
Crime Stoppers said in a statement that the ship could be anywhere in the region as the investigation continues. ‘There is a family, a group of friends, whose Mother’s Day and her life have changed forever!’ the agency said in a statement.
In her obituary, Ella’s great-grandparents are mentioned as Holocaust survivors, as is her Jewish pride.
In addition to her dance activities, Ella was a member of the Ransom Everglades Jewish Student Association.
She appeared in over 100 different productions of The Nutcracker with Miami City Ballet and recently appeared in a Chicago school production.
“We must remember her as she would have wanted to be remembered, as a star, a force of nature, a bright and beautiful young woman who was loved, admired, treasured and adored by more people than anyone her age would normally be.” Rabbi Jonathan Berkum said Monday, reports the Miami-Herald.
“To have known Her all my life, as I have been blessed, is to know how wrong and unfair it is for us to have lost Her so soon,” he continued.
‘His death is enough to make us question our faith… God did not do this. Rather, God is here crying bitter tears.’
The talented teen’s school said she ‘shined in our classrooms and on our stages’
She was a celebrated local dancer who participated in performances of The Nutcracker and performed more than 100 times for the Miami City Ballet.
Meanwhile, one of Ella’s school friends also read a moving statement.
‘She, you had so many qualities to admire. You were passionate about your faith. You loved your family. You loved your friends. And you were loved by everyone. “I miss you so much and I will honor your memory by never forgetting the special things you have,” she said.
At the funeral, Ella’s friends cried loudly as Rihanna’s song Diamonds in the Sky played while the teenager’s face appeared on a large screen with her date of birth and death.
The funeral was held at Temple Beth Shalom.
‘It’s really sad to hear. I heard she was a very nice girl, she was on the dance team and had a lot of good friends. “I can’t even imagine the pain they’re going through,” said a fellow Ransom Everglades student. CBSMiami.
“It seemed like a freak accident and, even worse, a hit and run. That’s kind of evil. How can you not have the conscience to help the girl you just hit with your boat?” Myles Gelber said.
Before becoming ambassador to Belgium, Michael Adler served as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Miami and served on the board of directors of Florida International University.
Ella’s obituary mentioned her love for the state of Israel. Her grandfather spoke openly of her aspiration to become an ambassador to the Jewish State.
A lifeguard revealed that when they arrived at the crash site (pictured), officials found “a lot of blood in the water.”
‘I don’t know if he was drunk. I don’t know if he wasn’t paying attention. But you have to pay attention to the water and open water like you pay attention to the street,” family friend Robert Strauss told CBS Miami.
Maritime lawyer Michael Winkleman debunked a rumor on social media that the boat’s driver might not know if he hit a person.
“I find it extremely hard to believe, because hitting a person is a large object, you would definitely feel it, especially if you’re going at any kind of speed.” . So it’s very hard for me to imagine that,” she said. NBCMiami.
‘I don’t know if he was drunk. I don’t know if he wasn’t paying attention. But you have to pay attention to the water and open water like you pay attention to the street,” said family friend Robert Strauss. CBSMiami.
In a tragic coincidence, Ella’s elementary school friend, Lucy Fernandez, died in a boating accident in the same area on Labor Day weekend 2022.
“I looked at my phone and got a text from a cousin of mine, it was like the wind was completely taken away from me and I left the room just thinking, ‘Oh my God, here’s another tragedy.'” Andy Fernandez said WSVN this week.
“What really hurt me was thinking about the Adler family and what they were going through,” he added.
“I’m angry that this had to happen again,” Lucy’s mother, Melissa, also said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
On Monday, investigators said “significant progress” had been made in the investigation.
