Samantha Jade Trebbi, a Palmetto Bay resident and student at Miami Palmetto High School who died unexpectedly on Oct. 11, at age 15 from strep throat, was honored for her ties to the community and her charitable donations.
In a joint effort by the Village of Palmetto Bay and Miami-Dade County, a portion of SW 77th Avenue between 144th and 152nd streets was named “Samantha Jade Trebbi Avenue” on Friday, Oct. 28, during an emotional gathering of family, friends and public officials.
About 200 people attended the ceremony presided over by Village Mayor Shelley Stanczyk and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Lynda Bell. Bell praised the teenager whose bright future was cut short tragically.
“Samantha Trebbi was well known and respected all throughout Miami Palmetto Senior High School and the entire Village of Palmetto Bay community,” Commissioner Bell said. “She was a child of boundless compassion and kindness who thought only of the needs of others before herself. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work closely with the Palmetto Bay Village Council as we pay proper tribute to a beautiful young soul who gave so much to so many.”
The street co-designated in her honor is on the east boundary of Coral Reef Park and was part of her life growing up in the village.
Also attending the event were Palmetto Bay council members Patrick Fiore and Joan Lindsay; Samantha’s grandparents, Jack and Joyce Leben; her brother, Zachary; her parents, Bob and April Trebbi; three cousins and two uncles.
Her mother and other members of her family collected thousands of signatures on a petition asking the county for the street naming and had conducted other projects to honor Samantha’s memory as well.
The family was pleased by the show of support from the community and the outpouring of emotion during the sometimes difficult observance.
“The county and Palmetto Bay were amazing,” April Trebbi said. “The mayor and Commissioner Bell had such touching words to say and both were crying during
