Maria N. Tritico

Maria was a bright shining light who saw opportunity instead of despair, ability instead of homelessness, and a pathway for every victim out of sex trafficking. Maria’s star had but just begun to shine.

A 2013 graduate of Texas State University with two Bachelor Degrees in Photography and Metal Smithing, Maria went on to The Art Institute of Chicago earning a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy in 2015. As a student, Maria studied in exchange programs where she spent time in Bali, France, Italy, and Hawaii.

It was in Hawaii where she met the love of her life, Chad Steve. Three weeks after their brief but auspicious meeting, Maria returned to Texas. Three years later they reconnected and fell in love. By 2016, they committed to a life together and moved to Florida. Sharing both their love of art and of humanity, Maria and Chad both worked at the Lighthouse Art Center where Maria became the Director of Education and Chad is the Director of Ceramics.

Maria and Chad had planned a December 31, 2020 wedding (New Year’s Eve being their special day) and they just closed on the purchase of their new home.

Maria was a rising artist. Her jewelry was getting noticed. Sending in three pieces to the first New York Jewelry week, hoping to get one accepted, all three of Maria’s pieces were accepted and she was highlighted at the main show in New York City. Her work has been shown in galleries and at shows all over the US and Canada.

In her Art Therapy Practice, Maria focused on veterans suffering with PTSD, elderly patients with Dementia and Alzheimer’s, and girls and women seeking to escape sex trafficking. Maria’s mission was to help those who need help and sought to improve their lives. In 2015 Maria and some friends formed a non-profit and traveled to Haiti to help young girls escape the bonds of the sex trade and open their own businesses. Maria never saw a person or a situation that was a problem, it was always merely a situation in need of a solution, and Maria was always part of the solution.

Chad said that Maria was the smartest person he has ever met. She was always looking for ways to improve things. Her family and friends remember her humor, her kindness, her generosity, her optimism, and her humanity. Maria leaves a large legacy for one so young. As her final act of giving Maria donated her organs so that she can give the gift of life to many families for a lifetime.

Maria leaves her fiancé, Chad Steve; her parents, Christopher L. and Deborah Lambert Tritico; sister, Melissa Tritico; brother, Christopher L. Tritico II; grandparents, Leonard and Jo Ann Tritico; nine aunts and uncles; fifteen cousins and a multitude of extended family and friends all over the world.

Preceded in death by her grandparents, Stanley “Skip” Lambert and Dolores Lambert of Spring, TX. The service will be lived streamed www.second.org/liveevents.

In lieu of flowers remembrances can be sent to The Maria Tritico Memorial Fund 373 Tequesta Dr., Tequesta FL. 33469. www.lighthousearts.org or the Maria Tritico Memorial Endowment Scholarship, Cy-Fair Education Foundation. www.thecfef.org