Community remembers Jalen Smith, teen who drowned at Sarasota park
Those who knew Jalen Smith remember him as a caring young man who donated to help the homeless, excelled in sports and academics, and would be the first to remind friends to finish schoolwork or wear a seatbelt. The 18-year-old died in a drowning at Nathan Benderson Park last week after Smith and a friend took a paddleboat out into the lake past closing hours, and the boat malfunctioned. Friends, family and acquaintances said Smith was a great kid with a bright future. A recent leader of the Sarasota High School varsity football team, who graduated just months ago, he was influential both on...
Source: heraldtribune.com
