Paralympic Gold Medalist Nick Scandone Dies at 42
Paralympic Gold Medalist Nick Scandone Dies at 42By: Ambrosia Sarabia | Thursday, January 08, 2009 12:00:00 AMLast updated: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 2:16:00 PMInspirational Newport area sailor succumbs to ALS.
http://www.goboatingclassifieds.com/...one_010809.jpg Photo by: Rich RobertsNick Scandone FOUNTAIN VALLEY – Nick Scandone, the Orange County sailor and Balboa Yacht Club member who brought home Gold from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, died Jan. 2 at his home. He was 42.
Born March 4, 1966 in Santa Ana, Nick Scandone spent much of his lifetime on the water. He learned to sail at age 7, at Balboa Yacht Club.
While sailing with the University of California, Irvine team in the 1980s, he led them to a national championship. He also won the 470 North American Championships in 1991.
Dreams of winning an Olympic Gold medal in sailing had always been on Scandone’s list of ultimate goals -- but, like many athletes, he pushed his passion for sailing aside when he realized sailing would not land him a paycheck each month. Instead, he took a job in advertising and sales.
His drive to reach the top in sailing came to the forefront years later. The Orange County native began his quest to earn an Olympic medal soon after he was diagnosed with ALS -- Lou Gehrig’s Disease -- in 2002. Saying that he “needed something to look forward to,” the avid sailor turned his focus to his first love.
Scandone took first place in the 2.4 Metre Open World Championship on Elba Island in Italy in September 2004. He was named Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in 2005, the highest honor for American sailors.
As the disease progressed, Scandone’s intensity for sailing only increased.
With support from his father, his brother and his wife, Mary Kate Scandone, Nick Scandone pressed forward. The sailing community and members of Balboa Yacht Club quickly jumped behind the beloved sailing sensation, offering monetary support and cheering Scandone to victory.
On Sept. 19, 2008, after he and his sailing partner Maureen McKinnon-Tucker captured Gold in the SKUD-18 class in the Paralympic Games, Scandone was greeted by his friends and supporters at John Wayne Airport.
“I am so overwhelmed by all these people,” a smiling Scandone said at the time. “I can’t believe this.”
Scandone is survived by his father, Vincent; his brother, Rocky; and his wife, Mary Kate.
Friends and family members will gather to celebrate Nick Scandone’s life at 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at Balboa Yacht Club. A Rendering of Final Honors will begin promptly at 2 p.m. on the Flag Deck and a reception will follow in the dining room. Friends are encouraged to being their favorite memories of Nick Scandone and share a few during the reception.
Balboa Yacht Club is located at 1802 Bayside Drive in Corona del Mar.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to BYC Maritime Sciences and Seamanship Foundation (BYC MSSF) in memory of Nick Scandone, 1901 Newport Blvd., Suite 350, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627. Tax ID #33-1102882. Donations can also be made to the ALS Foundation at www.alsa.org.
To sign an online guest book and leave a message of condolence, visit www.thelog.com, click on the ’News’ tab and select ’Obituaries’ from the pull-down menu.
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