By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
Matthew Scarpati was an enthusiastic soccer player, playing for the Long Island Junior Soccer League clubs in
Northport/Cow Harbor, Brentwood, Auburndale and East Meadow, and a huge fan of Manchester United. The Dix Hills resident is remembered also for being a devoted friend and having an outgoing personality. Matt was killed by a drunk motorcyclist while bicycling in the bike lane of the Wantagh State Parkway on July 19, 2009, one day after he attended the LIJSL Scholarship Brunch. The LIJSL and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association plus all his friends and relatives miss him dearly.
The Scarpati family then worked tirelessly to put a guardrail buffering the cars and motorcycles from bicycles on the Wantagh State Parkway so no other lives are lost there. On June 6, 2010 their efforts paid off. Governor Paterson attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony along with the Scarpati’s.
The Scarpati’s also fund the Matthew Scarpati Memorial Scholarship and two Michael Scarpati Memorial Scholarships (for Matt’s older brother who died in 2001 of an undiagnosed heart condition) through the Long Island Junior Soccer League.
At Half Hollow Hills High School East on May 21, the Architecture Club dedicated a bench to Matt. Mrs. Marianne Mead, Matt’s high school art teacher, led those efforts. Matt, a former member of the club, had always wanted to put a bicycle in his work so the Architecture Club did it for him in creating the bench.
“It was a very nice ceremony and they had a cellist playing,” commented Matt’s mother, Lynn Scarpati. “Approximately 35 to 40 of his friends were there. Mrs. Mead is an inspiration.”
Matt’s many friends established the Miles for Matt Foundation, a 501c(3) non-profit organization that donates money to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a scholarship fund at SUNY-Buffalo, where he was a student, and has pledged $25,000 to Sunrise Day Camp, which is dedicated to helping the social and physical needs of children with cancer.
Donations to the Miles for Matt Foundation can be made at www.miles4matt.com.