Brandon Twp. – In her short life Tiffany Lambiris, 16, was a Brandon teen who left an indelible impression of zest on everyone she met.
Lambiris died in an early morning car accident on Feb. 7 where the car she was a passenger in collided with an oncoming pick-up truck.
‘She would set her mind to something and just do it,? said Monica Lambiris, her mother.
‘It was her zest for life, her love of competition. She loved to learn and loved life.?
‘She had this unbelievable drive in her,? Monica continued as she reflected on the Brandon Honor Roll student and her tireless drive to train her horse for competitions this summer.
At 1-year-old, Tiffany’s eagerness to communicate convinced her parents that rather than riding an available pony she ride a larger horse.
‘We were hoping if we put her on the horse, that would be the end of her insisting, but instead she fell in love with them,? Monica said.
Coupling her grandfather’s love for animals with Tiffany’s love for her grandfather, she became infatuated with horses and eventually joined the Brandon Equestrian Riding Team with her spirited horse ‘Missy,? for whom she worked at Cook’s Dairy to help feed and board.
‘She was hoping for a big year with her horse,? Monica said.
‘She loved animals and really had a way with them, especially Missy who could be spirited, like her.?
Her drive was not limited to horse competition. As high school sophomore, Tiffany focused on earning good grades and enrolled in college preparatory courses for her junior school year, to be prepared academically for Lake Erie College, an acclaimed arts and equestrian institution. Her long-term goal was to make a future U.S. Olympic team.
A natural artist, Tiffany was drawn to competitive scholastic art programs entering several painted pieces to Brandon High School arts teacher Peg Hall for competition exhibits.
‘She always gave 110 percent,? said Hall. ‘What I admired about Tiffany was that if she didn’t understand something she’d ask for help, then go home and work on it and bring it back right.?
‘It would turn out fine. It was wonderful to watch her grow with her artwork,? Hall said tearfully.
Whether it was her spirit of adventure or faith, Tiffany was drawn to reach out and paint a personal touch on everything she encountered.
An avid and curious computer researcher, Tiffany discovered relatives who lived in Greece as well as a distant cousin with the same name in New Hampshire. Both Tiffanys maintained contact and were hoping to spend time with each other in the summer. She also hoped to someday visit Greece
Grounded by her sense of family, Tiffany and her ‘best buddy,? sister Toni, 14, spent quality hours with their mother.
‘I always felt that it was more important to do things together with the girls rather than yell at them to do things around the house,? said Monica who explained the trio enjoyed the movies or just having a fun afternoon.
Tiffany always rewarded her mother with praises and giddy thanks after an afternoon together, recalls Monica.
Her father, Roc Lambiris, known to Tiffany as ‘Ranger Dad,? a name earned from his occupation as an Oakland County Sheriff reservist, reflected how delightful his daughter’s insistent nature could be.
Insisting her father’s alone time with the girls was touched with grace, her favorite program, ‘Touched By An Angel,? was often a mandatory activity. Roc said above his protests ‘she insisted I needed to watch it so that I would understand.?
Cemented by Tiffany’s examples of bravery, courage, and intelligence, the family were gathered at the Ortonville Baptist Church for funeral services in honor of their angel on Thursday, Feb. 12.