Winter Park community continues to mourn Roger Trindade as trial approaches

Rodrigo Trindade and Adriana Thomé may never know what really took place that fateful night in Winter Park’s Central Park Oct. 15, 2016. It’s been nearly a year since a mysterious, violent incident involving Winter Park High School students took the life of their son, Roger Trindade.

But one thing was known very well on Friday night: Roger was loved. He’s still loved — and the impression he left on others is still felt today.

Family, friends, classmates and people the young Winter Park high-schooler never knew gathered to honor the 15-year-old boy at a vigil in Central Park last week — comforting a community that’s still healing.

Trindade’s parents were present, able to hear stories of the impact their son made at Winter Park High. He’s remembered as someone who was optimistic, always smiling and easy to talk to. He made people laugh and smile with jokes and sleight-of-hand card tricks.

“He was one of my best friends,” Winter Park High School student Joao Faya said. “He always made everyone around him happy. No one can replace him. He’s always in our hearts.”

Trindade also is remembered for his perseverance. Despite English being his second language, the boy from Brazil studied hard to succeed in his IB History of the Americas class. He had just moved to Florida from Brazil in early 2016.

“He was determined to join the IB program,” teacher Kris Rengel said. “I sat down with the IB coordinator, and Roger and I said, ‘OK, it’s a lot of reading.’ He said, ‘I got this; I can do it.’ He was funny, he was uplifting. The kids didn’t get enough time to know him. None of us did.”

Friday’s vigil was comforting though, Rodrigo said. Hearing about his son’s warm influence on others was uplifting.

“It’s amazing the number of hearts he has touched,” Rodrigo said. “Even though we don’t have him anymore, we’re proud of him and his heart.”