Melinda Giel
When I first met Gina, she was a young mother approaching 30 living in Broward County. Our husbands worked at Farm Bureau and Ron was my husband Jim's supervisor. Gina was a loving daughter, wife, mother and teacher. These were roles at which she excelled, but she was so much more. She was a unique individual, beautiful and vivacious, fun to be around, with a smile hinting at hidden secrets, a biting wit, a welcoming and comforting presence and the ability to make others feel good about themselves. She was responsible for one of the most terrifying and exciting experiences of my life. We were at Grand Teton National Park and visited Jackson Hole, Wyoming with Diane Leonard. While there, she and Diane talked me into going wild water rafting on the Snake River even though I could not swim. I said, "No, no, no!!" and she said, "It'll be fun, you'll see!". She was a great swimmer and promised to save me if I fell out. She was on the outside right part of the rubber raft with one leg hugging the side and a paddle in her hands. She alternately paddled furiously and grabbed the rope to hang on, laughing. I was bailing in front center sure I would drown. When we made it through the rapids, we were soaked to the skin in freezing cold water. Gina was exhilarated and ready to do it again. We saw each other intermittently through the years at Farm Bureau events and a visit with her was always the highlight of any event. I am so glad we were able to reconnect for a few years here in Gainesville.
