She Loved to Dance, She Loved Her Friends and Most of All, She Loved Her Family …

Ella Riley Adler, z”l

Ella Riley Adler, z”l, was a star. She was a force of nature, and when she was near, everyone felt a gravitational pull toward her.

In her 15 years on this earth, Ella dazzled us with her light. She emanated love and joy. She was beautiful. When she walked into a room, everyone was drawn to her. She loved to dance, she loved her friends and most of all, she loved her family – her parents, Amanda and Matthew and her younger siblings Jaden and Adalynn.

Ella shone on stage as a ballerina in The Nutcracker, appearing in over 100 performances with the Miami City Ballet at the Adrienne Arsht Center. Her magnetism radiated on the stage, where she belonged and thrived. Her love of dance continued at Ransom Everglades School, where she performed on the dance team and, just a few weeks ago, in the school play.

Ella worked hard at everything she did. She had a precocious discipline and focus that belied her age. She did not know what it was to work at half-speed. She gave everything her all and because of that, her energy made her stand apart. She worked relentlessly at school where she excelled. She celebrated life.

Ella loved her friends deeply. She had a big posse of friends, both from Blue Star Camps and school, but Ella had a way of making each of her friends feel special. She was loyal. She was compassionate. She always believed in speaking up for what was right and she always spoke her mind, but with warmth and grace.

Ella was proud to be Jewish and was a member of the Ransom Everglades Jewish Students Association. She was the great-granddaughter of Holocaust Survivors. She loved Israel and came from a long line of Jewish leaders with a strong commitment to faith and tikkun olam. She wore her identity proudly and loudly, just like her parents.

Ella is survived by her mother Amanda, father Matthew, brother Jaden and sister Adalynn. She is also survived by her grandparents Judy and Ambassador Michael M. Adler, Susan and Michael Klaiman; aunts Jacqueline Schimel (Andrew) and Rachel Schapiro (Alex) and her uncles Steven Klaiman (Alex) and David Adler (Cristina). She was the ringleader, mentor and idol of first cousins Samson, Mason, Sloane, Cameron, Tyler, Dylan, Sophie, Reese, Brody and Joseph.

Donations in Ella’s memory can be made to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation at JewishMiami.org/ellaadler

Click below to make a donation in Ella’s memory to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation