Miami Seashore Metropolis Fee will vote on baseball discipline renaming after the Surfside Condominium collapsed sufferer – CBS Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Manny LaFont’s family and friends are urging to keep his legacy alive through his love for baseball and children.

Beloved father and coach was one of 98 people killed in the collapse of the Champlain Towers building.

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The push to dedicate the North Shore Park baseball fields to LaFont began with a petition from Change.org in July, but it’s only now going to the city board for approval.

More than 2,700 people have signed the petition, which was launched by friend and baseball dad coach Mike Rosenow.

“Manny could always be found out here, especially on a day like today,” said Rosenow.

“People called it his second home,” said another baseball dad coach, Brendan Coyle.

The 54-year-old shone on the baseball field as a coach, father and brother in this sworn baseball community.

“On some evenings with the boys we would talk about how you learned baseball, why do you train, why are you always here? It was always the same every time. Because I love the game and I want my son to enjoy the game as I love it. You can’t help but be someone like that. You can’t help but miss him.

Coyle spoke on behalf of the baseball community at a city committee meeting a few weeks ago to get the city of Miami Beach to consider renaming the baseball field.

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LaFont’s two young children, 13-year-old Mia and 10-year-old Santi, also spoke.

“The Surfside apartment was my first home. I was born in this apartment, “Mia said.” When he wasn’t in that apartment he loved so much, he was always on the baseball field. “

Santi is now only left with memories. His father’s lessons, resilience, and baseball were always with him.

“Baseball is not just a game. It’s life for me and it’s life for my father, ”said Santi.

Even until the last hours before the towers collapsed, LaFont did what he loved most in the world: coach baseball and coach his son.

“I will never give up baseball,” said Santi tearfully. “When I grow up, I will teach my children, just as my father spent countless hours teaching me and his friends.

LaFont left everything in the field, and for his loved ones this field will now be the field of memories.

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The Miami Beach City Commission will approve the renaming of the field at its October 27 meeting.