Susie DiSunno, its most recent awardee, was welcomed by board members of the Kendall Madison Foundation at Alan Patricof's house on Huntting Lane in East Hampton Saturday morning — an informal get-together during which Jamie Patricof, one of the board members, said the University of Maryland-bound recipient was among more than 50 students here who have benefited from the generous four-year mentoring scholarships that the foundation has awarded in Kendall Madison's memory during the 30 years that have followed his untimely death at the age of 21.
"Kendall was a very special kid, an outstanding athlete and student with a great future, whose life, unfortunately, was cut short," Alan Patricof, Jamie's father, said.
Kendall Madison was a triple-threat when it came to athletics, academics, and community service — an all-aroundness not frequently found in any time, even more so in this age of specialization. The younger Patricof said the board is challenged each year when it comes to choosing a present-day student mirroring his good friend's qualities — a designee who excels academically and in community service, and plays at least two varsity sports. "I know I wouldn't have won," he said with a laugh.
At the same time, while mindful that the scholarships are considered among the most prestigious here, he asked the group, which included Madison's mother, Sharon Ann Bacon, Ernie Vorpahl, Chris Hatch, Carl Johnson, Rosalind Freidus — all board members — and Cecilia Blowe, Connie Chen, and Nora Conlon — recent recipients — to spread the word so that the candidate pool can grow. "We very much want Kendall's legacy to live on," he said in urging also that the group continue to explore ways to further the foundation's work here. He said he'd welcome ideas from the four scholarship recipients, whom he called "our ambassadors."
Vorpahl, a financial consultant and planner who was one of Madison's close friends, said during a break in the discussion that a chief aim is to endow the scholarship fund — which, at the moment, he said, stands at around $135,000 — so that it can be self-sustaining. He added, regarding the 20-year-old foundation, that it has, among other things, underwritten the Kendall Madison Fitness Center at East Hampton High School, the junior class's annual 9/11 trip to New York City, and Little League trips to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Jamie Patricof added later in an email that "the foundation has expanded its mission to provide broader support for East End youth, including after-school programs and financial assistance for camps, sports, and enrichment activities. To date, the foundation has awarded over $200,000 to student-athletes and community programs."
Besides getting top grades, DiSunno played three sports at East Hampton — volleyball, basketball, and softball — played the tenor saxophone in its band and in the Sag Harbor Community Band, and put in many community service hours as president of the Key Club, assisting the Kiwanis Club with its Christmas tree sales, toy drives, and Halloween parties for children. She said she'll major in business at Maryland, and, when it was noted the scholarship was a mentoring one, she said she was more than ready to give back.
A golf outing to benefit the Kendall Madison Foundation is to be held at the Maidstone Club here on Oct. 1. Reservations can be made through [email protected].
