Ex-NJ Teen Alyssa Alhadeff 'Gave Her Best' In Everything She Did

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Alyssa Alhadeff was a giver.

Alhadeff, 14, was one of 17 people who died Wednesday after an ex-student went into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. with a rifle and shot several people.

Alhadeff previously lived in Woodcliff Lake. Laurie Thomas was her soccer coach for the past three seasons with Parkland Travel Soccer. She spoke highly of Alhadeff, a three-year team captain.

"We are extremely grateful and privileged those of us who knew Alyssa. She contributed and gave much to the emotional life of so many us," Thomas said. "Alyssa was kind, loving and caring. We need to be more kind and loving and caring. Alyssa enriched the lives of the people she was around, we must enrich the lives of the people we come around.

"Alyssa gave her best as a student in school. She gave her best on soccer fields with and for the team. She gave her best as friend, my son Kai can attest to this, Alyssa was his best friend."

Thomas also spoke about Alhadeff and the reflection she was on her family.

"Alyssa gave the best as a daughter because she had great role model from her parents, who gave their best as parents," Thomas said. "Alyssa's death signifies the life we ought to live, how well we should love our family, how we should love our friend [and] how well we must care for others."

Alhadeff was also a leader. She was a three-year team captain with Parkland Travel Soccer.

"She was the heartbeat of the team, the one who pushed us to reach our best, she was a superstar but too humble to know it," Thomas said. "She loved her teammates, she stood up for them; she was loyal to the team and protected them because they’d do the same for her."

Alyssa Alhadeff/Courtesy of Parkland Travel Soccer Team, used with permission

Rabbi Shuey Biston of Chabad Parkland told The Forward that Alhadeff "was one of those children who always had a smile on her face, just full of love."

More than $14,000 was donated to Alhadeff's family as of Friday morning. The money will be used to help pay for her funeral.

Alhadeff was a camper at Camp Coleman, a Jewish day camp that serves kids throughout the East Coast. Camp Coleman posted about Alhadeff and broadcast a healing service on Facebook Live Thursday.

Campers' families posted their memories of Alhadeff and offered condolences to her family.

Related: Florida Shooting Victim, 14, Lived In NJ, 'Loved, Well-Respected'
Related: Donations Pour In To Help Family Of Ex-NJ Teen Killed In Florida

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Photo: Alyssa Alhadeff and her mother Lori. Courtesy of Laurie Thomas