On the anniversary of young Matthew Hylton’s death last Thursday, students at Mineola High School planted a tree in the school’s central courtyard to his memory.
“I love the idea of a tree,” said Matthew’s mother, June Hylton, about the tribute. “As the tree grows and its branches bloom, it will always keep the spirit of Matthew.”
Along with that remembrance in honor of the 15-year-old Mineola boy, his family has established a foundation in his name, with the intention of awarding a sports-oriented annual scholarship money to a deserving student as another means of keeping Matthew’s memory alive in the students’ consciousness.
A fundraising event will be held at the Recovery Room in the Mineola Long Island Railroad station plaza on Friday night, with all those attending encouraged to wear their favorite sports jersey, in keep with the spirit of the sports-minded Matthew Hylton.
But the first contributions to the fund came early last month, when local runner Lauren Napolitano drummed up support for her run in a “Team Race for Life” half-marathon and succeeded in raising $1,800 running in Matthew Hylton’s name.
Although Napolitano didn’t know Hylton, there is a family connection since he brother Steven knew Matthew from when they took classes on Jackson Avenue together.
“Since I found out about the scholarship, I wanted to help out any way I can,” Napolitano said. “For me, the thing is for the community to be aware of the scholarship.”
The final amount of the scholarship award remains to be determined, according to June Hylton, who said that candidates for the college money will have to meet a set of criteria that also are still to be determined.
Whatever the scholarship award is, the Hyltons’ object is, as she put it, “keeping the life and spirit of Michael alive.”
Just a year after the unexpected loss of her son to Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome, a genetic heart condition that affects young adults, Hylton said she is grateful for the good will of neighbors that has helped sustained her in the wake of her family tragedy last May.
“The support of the community helps you to get through every day,” she said.
After the recovery room, the family is working on plans for other fundraising events that may include a 5K race.
“She has this drive,” Collin Hylton said of his wife. “When he passed away, the whole community opened its arms for us. We want to give back.”
The Hyltons describe Matthew as an “average teenager,” but one who knew right from wrong, and was never ill-tempered.
He played soccer at St. Aidan, along with football and lacrosse.
“He was quick,” his father recalled.
