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Mattituck trophy case dedicated to one of school’s biggest winners

Doorhy trophy case copy

The new trophy case outside the gym in Mattituck High School was officially dedicated Saturday in honor of Kaitlyn Doohry, the Mattituck High School graduate who was hit by a car and killed in August 2014 in Fairfield, Connecticut, where she attended college at Sacred Heart University. 

Ms. Doohry’s friends and family have since created the non-profit Kait’s Angels, which encourages people to do “random acts of kindness” for other people, something they say their loved one became known for.

Ms. Doorhy was a volunteer for Maureen’s Haven, which helps the homeless, and she also volunteered at blood drives. She was an honor student, a varsity soccer player, an accomplished musician, a cheerleader and the 2011 Mattituck Strawberry Festival Queen.

The new trophy case was a joint effort of Kait’s Angels, the Mattituck-Cutchogue Athletic Booster Club, school officials, a $15,000 donation from the H.W. Wilson Foundation of Manhattan and numerous volunteers who came together to help build the trophy case, Mattituck-Cutchogue Superintenent Dr. Anne Smith said.

“The trophy case that we officially dedicate in this room stands as testimony to her life and her passion,” Dr. Smith said of Ms. Doorhy. “Her memory represents our commitment and a legacy of a strong community.”

The dedication was held on homecoming weekend.

“It’s very overwhelming,” said Kaitlyn’s mom, Darla, after the dedication ceremony Saturday morning. “This is a very giving community where everybody gives back. It’s not just the Doorhy family, it’s the entire [community].”

Many of those in attendance wore pink Kait’s Angel’s tee shirts that said Kaitlyn is “Forever in Our Hearts.”

Those T-shirts were designed and sold by student Sam Smilovich, who donated the money to Kait’s Angels, Darla Doorhy said afterward.

“Wherever we go, everybody wears the pink shirts,” she said. Kait’s Angels also has members in Connecticut, where they will have a homecoming tailgate party in Kaitlyn’s honor on Oct. 24 at Sacred Heart, Darla Doorhy said.

Kaitlyn’s dad, Joe, and sister Carly, also attended Saturday’s dedication ceremony.

Molly Waitz, a friend of Kaitlyn’s and now a member of Kait’s Angels, said the group aims to “discover and utilize the individual value of each member in order to enhance the community and assist in seamless youth development. By encouraging constructive core values and providing support, assistance and encouragement, we will ultimately empower young people to reach their full potential and set a positive example for others.”

The group has held a Holiday food drive for the needy, they’ve held a poker run to raise money for local charities and they’ve built a “Buddy Bench” at the Cutchogue East Elementary School, where students are encouraged to sit if they’re having a bad day, so that another student can come over and talk to them, Ms. Waitz said.

“We aim to have this buddy bench at all the local elementary schools in the future,” she added.

Caption: The Mattituck-Cutchogue Athletic Booster Club presents flowers to Joe, Darla and Carly Doorhy during a ceremony to dedicate a new trophy case at Mattituck High School in Kaitlyn Doorhy’s honor. 

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