Ariana Veronica Solimando, 32 of Park Ridge, formerly of Emerson, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 surrounded by her mother, father and her brother.Ari was a 2003 graduate of Emerson Jr./Sr. High School and an up and coming player on the Emerson Cavos softball team before being struck down by a catastrophic spinal cord injury in the summer of 2003. Despite her paralysis, Ari was and still is an inspiration to many.
Surviving are her parents, Kim Dastis of Park Ridge and Gary T. Solimando and his wife Joann of Emerson, her brothers Gavin Solimando, Justin Rowan of Orlando, Florida, Nicholas Solimando of Emerson, her sister Jenna Solimando of Laguna Niguel, California and many cousins, aunts, uncles and three nephews.
Memorial visitation was held at Becker Funeral Home in Westwood on Thursday, May 17. In lieu of flowers, Ari would like donations sent to The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and/or Canine Companions for Independence.