Major, who graduated from St. Mary High School last year, played on the school’s hockey team for four years.
Kevin J. Major, formerly of Westfield, is seen at his graduation last year from St. Mary High School.WESTFIELD – An athletic scholarship fund established to honor the memory of drowning victim Kevin J. Major is gaining momentum at the health club where the 19-year-old was considered family within its tightly knit community of members.
Expert Fitness owners Barbara A. Vinciguerra and Jill A. Monaco are donating fees from the club’s private classes to help bolster the fund established by Major’s family. In the first five days, Expert Fitness members raised nearly $1,000, a number that Vinciguerra expects to increase.
“We are donating all proceeds from all boot camp and private spin classes for the remainder of the month,” she said. “The response from members has been great. This is a community within itself, and we do what we can for all our family here.”
Major, who died last week in a drowning accident on the Connecticut side of Congamond Lakes, had been swimming from a pontoon boat with a group of friends on July 11 when he disappeared in the water at about 4:30 p.m. His body was recovered from Middle Pond the next day shortly after 10 a.m.
His mother, Susan Canning, also a longtime Expert Fitness member and a personal friend to Vinciguerra and Monaco, expressed her appreciation to all those who have come forward with donations.
“She’s not ready to talk yet,” Vinciguerra said, “but she’s grateful to everyone for their support.”
An avid athlete and a member of the club from the time he was about 13 years old, Major was involved with several different sports teams throughout his life. His first love was hockey, which he started at the age of 3 with the Westfield Youth Hockey Association and continued with the Western Mass Blades, Massconn and the Springfield Indians.
He was a starting defenseman for St. Mary’s High School hockey team all four years.
In 2009 he was named to the Coaches all Division team.
He most recently played hockey for the Springfield Jr. Pics organization.
Major also played rugby and was a member of The Springfield Rifles Rugby Football club. In 2010 he was chosen to play on the Massachusetts Select Side where he competed in the New England All-Star Tournament. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 2010 and while in high school lettered in hockey, baseball, golf, soccer and lacrosse.
Throughout the rest of the month, Vinciguerra will continue to remind club members during classes to do what they can to contribute to the fund that is intended to help youngsters with financial needs participate in Westfield sports programs by providing a scholarship that will pay for fees and equipment.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to keep Kevin’s memory alive,” Vinciguerra told a group of indoor cyclists at the conclusion of a Tuesday afternoon spin class.
Donations may be dropped off at Expert Fitness, located in the Little River Shopping Plaza in Westfield at 609 East Main St., or mailed to The Kevin J. Major Memorial Scholarship Fund for Youth Sports, c/o Easthampton Savings Bank, P.O. Box 351, Easthampton, Mass. 01027