Remembering Grace Carricarte

On the last day of September, we lost one of our own, our beloved editor-at-large Grace Carricarte, who passed away at the age of 42 after a long and truly courageous struggle with liver disease. Gracie, as her friends called her, was an invaluable member of our team, the author of numerous articles about canines, wild animals, and gardens in the Gables, all things she loved.

She was, of course, much more than that — a woman with an amazing heart who spent many years as a suicide prevention counselor for teenagers. She was also a tireless advocate for animal rights, and for human rights as well, single-handedly changing the laws in the State of Florida to outlaw cyberstalking.

She was also a dedicated member of the Coral Gables Garden Club, volunteering for projects that ranged from maintaining the community garden in the McFarlane District to planting thousands of mangrove bulbs in a project that attracted a story by National Geographic.

Wherever someone was in need, Gracie was the first to help, including taking care of elderly neighbors near her Gables home on De Soto Boulevard. As Gracie used to say, if you cannot find some way to help others, you are not doing your job as a human being. Her spirit will live on in all who knew and loved her, and she will be deeply missed.