June 10, 2009: Brendan Ganguzza Commemorates One Year and Shares Gratitude
Dearest family, friends, and members of the community:
Today is an emotional day for my family and I as it commemorates one year since the passing of our beloved Nicole. No matter the circumstances, loss is always an extremely difficult process to get through. I recall the cliché that time heals all wounds and I have come to realize that’s only a partial truth, as healing requires a conscious commitment to exploring one’s own reaction to grief. Unfortunately there is nothing in this world that can change the tragic story of my wife’s death and for those of us who dearly cared for Nicole we are changed forever as we are left with a void in our hearts. Even though we find ourselves in this position, the experience of having her part of our life and knowing her true inner beauty gives us the courage to persevere through these difficult times.
As we have shared before, Nicole possessed tremendous qualities that inspired us all. For those of us who were blessed to have been in her presence, we felt the warm glow that exuded from her bright spirit, which now resides within each of us as we carry her precious memory in our hearts. She has given us the gifts of compassion and unconditional love, which empowers us to move forward with our own life’s journey, carrying a perspective that is born out of love. As we all grow the experience allows us to expand beyond ourselves by providing the same type of love to those who are blinded by the struggles of human existence. The same is true for the Nicole P. Ganguzza Foundation, even though it is in its infancy, it will grow based on the same principles that made Nicole the extraordinary angel that we all have come to admire and adore. Even though she is not here to walk the earth with us her shinning light will pass through us onto others who are willing to open their eyes to creating a peaceful existence.
This past year we have been blessed by the overwhelming goodwill that has come our way in many different forms. I would be remiss if I did not take the time to thank everyone who has exhibited beautiful acts of kindness.
To everyone who has posted on the Nicole Ganguzza website and sent their condolences via cards, flowers, and donations thank you because your sentiments were uplifting in the most dire moments following this tragedy. To the members of Fuse Church who made the Nicole P. Ganguzza Foundation a beneficiary of their inaugural charity dodge ball event, thank you for your gracious efforts. In October the Track Shack hosted their annual UCF 5 Miler and they also made The Nicole P. Ganguzza Foundation a beneficiary of the event and I thank you for your willingness to do so. On March 21st 2009, the Nicole P. Ganguzza Foundation hosted our inaugural charity golf event that was successful and a truly positive experience for all who were involved. For that I thank Ventura Golf Club, the many sponsors, all the golf participants, and all our volunteers for not only making it a great event but for allowing such a smooth and enjoyable experience that was without any unexpected situations.
In December 2008, Nicole was scheduled to graduate from UCF with her Masters of Arts in Counselor Education while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. I thank everyone who was a part of the graduation ceremony for taking care of the needs of my family and I. You allowed me to walk for Nicole and that day catapulted me much further along in my healing journey. That same day the Marriage and Family Research Institute of UCF held a ceremony honoring her for work as a Marriage Educator. Thank you again for everything because that day was perfect and it allowed me for the first time to really celebrate the life of Nicole since her death. Thank you to the local mental health community for all your support and allowing us to promote our foundation. It especially means a great deal to me because Nicole had such great passion for the field and you had welcomed us with open arms. To the Children’s Advocacy Center for Osceola County, thank you for giving Nicole an opportunity to work as a child advocate and dedicating a room in her memory. I want express my gratitude to the men and women of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for all the hard work and resources given to the case of my wife. I believe in the work that you are doing and I have complete faith that you will resolve this case for my family and the entire community.
Also I would like to thank Sheriff Demings for allowing me to participate in recent events of the Sheriff’s Office and allowing me to be a voice for victims of violent crimes. To everyone who has made purchases of wristbands and t-shirts supporting the foundation and Nicole’s belief of creating change creatively, thank you so much for supporting her dreams of one day providing mental health care and education to those who would otherwise be unable to afford such services. I have one last thank you to those who knew and were involved in her life. To family, friends, educators, fellow students, employers, fellow employees and those she had counseled thank you so much because you made her experience on earth beautiful and allowed her to fully enjoy her life.
I would like to leave you with a thought from author and psychiatrist Victor Frankel who has given me the words to express my deepest feelings for my best friend, my heart, my wife Nicole:
“The truth—that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire. Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest human secret that human poetry and human thought have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love.”
Today I invite each of you to acknowledge and embrace your loved ones because no matter what obstacles we face in our everyday life the truth has always remained the same: only love is real!
Nicole’s loving husband, Brendan
December 3, 2008: Ganguzza Investigation Nets Suspect
She is survived by her loving husband, Brendan J. Ganguzza; mother, Eileen Alexander; sisters Andreia Alexander and Amanda Vega; maternal grandparents, Jacqueline and Neil Wolfe; uncle, Henry Wolfe (Genese); aunt, Nancy Einsenberger; and a host of cousins; father-in-law, Joseph Ganguzza; mother-in-law, Karin Ganguzza; and great grandparents, Anthony and Caroline Ganguzza; brother-in-law, Joe Ganguzza (Carla); and niece, Ava Veronica Ganguzza. She was preceded in death by her father, Albertus Alexander and great grandmothers, Sylvia Wolfe (Nana) and Lily Rose (MomMom). She will be deeply missed by all.
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined."
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away."
"Dance like there's nobody watching. Love like you'll never get hurt. Sing like there's nobody listening. Live like it's heaven on earth."
Full Name: Nicole P. Ganguzza
Born: 25th February 1982
Passed Away: 10th June 2008
Age: 26 years of age
Location: Orlando, Florida
Father: Albertus Alexander
Mother: Eileen Alexander
Siblings: Andreia Alexander and Amanda Vega
Husband: Brendan J. Ganguzza
Occupation: Student, Intern
- She had a fabulous shoe collection
- She aspired to have her own private practice
- She had an amazing gift to counsel and teach
- She had been recently baptized into the Catholic Church