‘We Didn’t Lose Our Father. He Was Taken From Us.’  — Neighborhood Information

On Dec. 18, Gabriel Glantz, who had been residing in his mother Marcia’s homeland of Brazil, was staying at his childhood dwelling in Kingshyre at Cross Creek, awaiting the approaching beginning of his sister Isabel’s child. 

Gabe says there was a knock on the door, and since he was making dinner, his father, Steve, went to see who was there. 

Seconds later, Gabe heard a number of gunshots fired and minutes later, ambulance and regulation enforcement autos arrived on the scene and sped Steve away to a hospital. However tragically, Steve handed away shortly after reaching the hospital. 

Not lengthy after his father had been shot, Gabe, 37, heard one extra shot fired, which was apparently the gunman — the Glantzes’ Kingshyre neighbor Timothy Lobianco, 66 — taking his personal life. Gabe says that Lobianco apparently walked again to his personal home, informed his spouse “I did one thing…and don’t observe me,” earlier than strolling again exterior and capturing himself. 

Though the Glantz household doesn’t absolutely know why Lobianco killed this beloved husband, father and grandfather, Gabe’s brother Kyle, 34, mentioned that Steve, Lobianco and one other long-time Kingshyre neighbor had completed fairly a bit of motorbike driving collectively. However, a number of years in the past, Lobianco suffered a head harm in a critical accident on his bike and his demeanor undoubtedly grew angrier within the years that adopted. 

“We don’t know why our dad turned the focus of [Lobianco’s] anger,” Kyle informed me every week or so after Steve was laid to relaxation on Dec. 22 on the Gan Shalom Cemetery on County Line Rd. in Lutz. “All we all know is that we didn’t lose our father. He was taken from us.” And, as if the capturing wasn’t tragic sufficient, Steve was killed the identical night time Isabel, 28, gave beginning to a child woman. Marcia, Steve’s spouse of 40 years, was already on the hospital with their daughter when Steve was shot. 

Though Steve and I by no means actually “frolicked” collectively a lot, we turned shut pals throughout his several-year stint because the volunteer president of what was then referred to as the New Tampa Little League (NTLL), once we each had sons taking part in ball at what’s now referred to as Eber Discipline on Kinnan St., simply north of Cross Creek Blvd. Steve was fully devoted to not solely operating the league, but in addition expertly dealing with the inevitable squabbles between mother and father, in addition to at all times ensuring the fields have been stored completely manicured. He cherished the sphere upkeep a lot, he stored dealing with it lengthy after he was not operating the league. 

Seemingly at all times smiling, at all times personable, the one-time All-American highschool springboard diver and barefoot waterskier was, “a tremendous husband, father and buddy,” in line with Hazzan Jodi Sered-Lever of Congregation Mekhor Shalom, who presided over Steve’s burial, which was attended by greater than 200 individuals (together with yours really), the overwhelming majority being New Tampa neighbors who got here to help and pay their respects to the Glantz household, who buried Steve solely 4 days after he was killed. 

Kyle was the primary to talk on the funeral. “From our household to everyone right here,” he mentioned, “the quantity of help, the outpouring of affection and prayers and ideas …you don’t perceive how a lot it has helped us making an attempt to traverse by means of these previous few days. This crowd is a testomony to who our father was and the affect that he left on not solely our household however on this whole neighborhood, from Little League to operating into him at Publix, I simply need to say a most honest ‘thanks.’ It really means so much and it’s simply fulfilling to know the way a lot my father meant to so many individuals.” 

To that sentiment, Gabe then added, “I feel everybody right here will take how [our dad] seen life with them into the long run. He was a beautiful father, however I don’t suppose we realized simply how blessed we actually have been. He was at all times there for us, and myself specifically, to the place I knew that I might take a lot bigger dangers than I ought to as a result of I knew he was at all times there, it doesn’t matter what.” 

He added, “Everybody is aware of he was a neighborhood man…pals with and at all times maintaining with everybody. He was concerned within the Little League for a very long time. Even after Kyle and I finished taking part in, he caught round for five or 6 extra years simply because he appreciated driving round on that garden mower. He put our grandfather Arnold up in that sizzling canine truck, promoting burgers and sizzling canine on the fields on the weekends, simply in order that they may very well be nearer collectively. I don’t know which he cherished extra — assembly up with individuals at Publix or sitting in Part 116 on the Lightning video games.” 

Gabe additionally famous, “The final time we went to Publix collectively was after he picked me up on the airport and he took me to a selected line simply to point out me off to one in all my highschool pals’ moms.” 

He then closed by saying, “In gentle of latest occasions, simply be good…love thy neighbor…and in case you come throughout something you discover uncommon in the neighborhood that you just suppose somebody must find out about, don’t hesitate as a result of…you simply by no means know.” 

After Steve’s sons have been completed talking, Hazzan Sered-Lever named all of Steve’s family members after which turned her consideration to his passing. 

“Tragically, we’re all right here immediately due to evil. Evil has touched Steven’s household, his pals and this neighborhood and all who knew and cherished him.” 

She continued, “Why did this destruction and devastation happen? The place was God? Why didn’t God shield Steven? As painful and as heartbreaking as it’s to soak up, I submit that God can’t cease human acts of evil from taking place. The prayers in my prayer guide describe God as ‘gracious and compassionate.’ If God might have stopped this, God would have, however God couldn’t. So, the place is God on this unmitigated tragedy? God is the supply of consolation who’s with us as we take the required steps to proceed residing within the face of our heartbreak. And, by means of this heartbreak, we keep in mind, we honor, and we pay tribute to Steven.” 

And at last, Hazzan Shered-Lever mentioned, “Steven was compassionate, devoted, dedicated, a tough employee and a planner. He was a individuals particular person, which additionally made him so profitable in gross sales. However, it was by no means transactional [with him]. It was at all times [about] relationships. He cherished to speak to individuals and was a unprecedented listener. Individuals would divulge heart’s contents to him like magic. He knew everybody’s life story, taking after his dad. He at all times wished to assist anyone and everyone. His friendship was legendary and he sought to unravel any drawback somebody was experiencing.” (Word-As a type of pals Steve helped again when he was the president of the Little League, I can attest first-hand to the reality of this assertion). “He skilled such pleasure in interacting with folks that he was the mayor of wherever he went, together with the Little League, and one of many fields was named in his honor.” 

Steven was a consummate household man. His household was extra vital to him than the rest on the earth. 

“To the whole Glantz household, we can’t take away your ache, however we’re holding every one in all you in our hearts. The love you may have for Steven and his love for every one in all you endures without end.” 

Relaxation in peace, Steve. You might be sorely missed.