Marissa Gloria Marie DiNapoli

Marissa’s Legacy

Marissa was a dedicated and diligent student who graduated early in February 2025, a reflection of her strong work ethic and love of learning. She especially enjoyed life skills and culinary classes, where she could apply creativity and independence. Throughout her school years, she participated in volunteer service, always finding fulfillment in helping others.

Often described as a real-life Snow White, Marissa had an extraordinary love for animals—horses, dogs, cats, chickens, and all living creatures. She shared a special bond with her cat, Kion, and felt most at peace when surrounded by animals and nature. Music was one of her emotional languages. She loved singing, connecting her thoughts and feelings to sound and lyrics as a way to express herself. She embraced her femininity—loving makeup, fashion, her eyelashes, and celebrating what it meant to be a woman.

Marissa cherished simple joys: Takis, Sunny D, pickles, ramen, and Friday night movie traditions with her sister. She loved being outdoors—riding dirt bikes and motorcycles, getting muddy, breathing fresh air, and going for long drives in her Mustang, which brought her a sense of freedom and peace. At just 16 years old, she began working and quickly became known as a hard worker and self-described workaholic. She gave back to younger students by working at a summer camp, helping youth learn the basics of technology and robotics, blending patience, leadership, and service.

Marissa deeply loved her home in Morgan Hill. In her own words, from a school journal entry dated 9/12/24:

“A place that has special meaning to me is my house. I've grown up in the house I live in, and have learned and experienced so many things living there. My entire childhood is at my house, from learning to ride a bike, to riding horses, playing with my chickens, and dirt biking. My parents made a house into a home.”

Marissa entered foster care at just six months old, moving through several placements before being taken in at the age of three by Karlene and Lee DiNapoli and legally adopted at five, marking the beginning of the permanence and safety every child deserves. Her placement in foster care stemmed from her biological parents’ lifelong struggles with substance abuse, and in her earliest years she endured neglect, hunger, and exposure to domestic violence—experiences that shaped her emotional depth far beyond her age. By seven, Marissa had experienced the loss of her biological mother in 2014, followed a year and a half later by the passing of her mother, Karlene. Raised by her father Lee and supported by her sisters, Marissa grew grounded in both her beginnings and who she was becoming, holding her identity as Marissa Gloria Marie Ramirez while embracing life as Marissa DiNapoli. Having faced grief and hardship at an age when most children are still discovering the world, she developed an uncommon empathy and a deep commitment to ensuring others never felt alone. Her legacy honors foster youth who face overwhelming odds, offering hope, advocacy, and the reminder that resilience and love can grow even from the hardest beginnings.

Service to others defined Marissa’s heart. She was always attentive to those in need—offering food to unhoused individuals, checking in on loved ones who were hurting, and making intentional efforts to show kindness, compassion, and love in quiet but meaningful ways. She treated others with compassion and inclusivity, never bullying or excluding, and always leading with empathy. Her values were rooted in kindness and authenticity—she was unapologetically herself. What made Marissa uniquely her was her old soul. Though small in stature, she was wise beyond her years, feeling emotions deeply and experiencing the world with remarkable sensitivity and understanding.

In 2025, Marissa DiNapoli was reported missing after failing to return home, prompting an extensive search by her family, friends, and the small but closely knit Morgan Hill community. Days later, the community found her deceased, and her death was determined to be the result of a violent act. The sudden and tragic loss of Marissa ended a young life far too soon and left an undeniable absence in the lives of those who knew and loved her.

Marissa’s life inspired the creation of this scholarship because of the profound way she connected with others and her community. She was known throughout Morgan Hill, and when she was lost, the community showed up—an undeniable testament to how deeply she was loved and how many lives she touched. This scholarship honors her legacy by supporting students who reflect her spirit: those who show advocacy for others, resilience through hardship, and a heart for service.