July 28th, 2007
About Nick
An Orange County native, Nick Scandone learned to sail Naples Sabots in Newport Beach at a young age. He progressed to other boats on his way to the college sailing scene.At U.C. Irvine, Scandone won the 1988 Collegiate Dinghy and Team Racing National Championships, earning him national All-American honors. His dreams turned to the Olympic Games and in 1991 he won the 470 North American Championships in the course of training for the 1992 Olympic Trials. After finishing out of the money at the trials, Scandone became a competitve weekend warrior in a variety of sailing classes while making a career in advertising sales.
ALS Intervenes
In 2002, Nick was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
The cause of ALS is not completely understood and there is no cure or treatment. The disease is characterized by progressive weakness and paralysis of the muscles of the limbs and trunk, as well as those that control such vital functions as speech, swallowing and breathing. In most cases, mental faculties are not affected. ALS is fatal and the average life expectancy after diagnosos is two to five years.
Contact Nick nscandone@socal.rr.com
Go, Nick!!!!!!!
Comment by Sarah Routson — October 12, 2007 @ 11:11 am
You have a new gigantic group cheering you on Nick!!!
Comment by Julie Carr — December 17, 2007 @ 10:33 am
Tell Trent to hang in there! Our prayers are with him!
Comment by Bob Daniel — January 26, 2008 @ 12:34 am
Nick…good luck! My name is Peter Foley…father of Maureen Unter (nee Foley) who had a big crush on you in grammar school in Fountain Valley Ca…
Bless you!
Peter
Comment by Peter Foley — June 9, 2008 @ 9:58 am
Hey Nicky! Good luck to you! I’ll be routing for you! I’m just one of the many girls that had a severe crush in grammar school & i’m happy to admit that years later. I always liked to think i had great taste but who knew you would grow up to be such an inspirational athlete and human being. I am proud to say you are my friend! Go for gold!
Comment by Tajsha Thomas — June 10, 2008 @ 12:53 pm
Nick,
Your’e doing great, inspiring and fun things. Sitting with Ned and he sends his congratulations along with mine.
Jay (& Ned)
Comment by jay stokes — July 5, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
Nick,
Best of luck in Beijing. I am an old friend of your wife and saw the MSNBC broadcast. My family will be cheering you on from the east coast. Please send my love to Mary Kate.
Margaret Carroll-Gossett
Comment by margaret carroll — July 15, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
Nick,
You’re amazing. I’ll be cheering you on from Washington. Good Luck!!
Comment by Diane Hartson (Davidson) — July 15, 2008 @ 9:08 pm
Hey Nicky, good luck and i’ll talk to you soon. We’ll have a game when you get back.
Comment by Dino Rubi — July 21, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Nick,
I sailed to Bermuda with Mike Pinckney last month and he told us all of your incredible campaign to the Olympics. My Uncle Bob Duggan also had ALS and I’m so inspired by your ability to overcome and achieve!! - Good luck - kick some a** - I’ll be watching from the states - Go for the gold! - Aloha - Ian McLaughlin
Comment by Ian McLaughlin — July 28, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
Nicky,
It’s been 20+ years since I’ve had the pleasure of seeing you. Since high school to be exact but I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all the best of luck while over in China for the 2008 Olympics and I also wanted to let you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you along with so many others. You are a true inspiration to all and I wish you nothing but good luck in going for that GOLD! Take care Little Nicky Scandone
Your friend…..Marci
Comment by Marci Resh-Roberts — July 30, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Good luck and have a blast ! OMG….the Olympics Nick ! Nothing like the BVI races huh? A medal is so much better than a can of peas!
We love you and wish you the best !
Beverly, Claire & Wendy
Comment by Claire Roberts — September 6, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
Go Nick!!!
You are a hero. I wish you great success.
nigel
Comment by Nigel Cochrane — September 8, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
Nick, you are awesome. We wish you the best of success over in China and we are rooting you on.
Best wishes,
Jerry and Michelle De La Cruz
Comment by Jerry & Michelle De La Cruz — September 8, 2008 @ 7:11 pm
Hello
I am looking for Victor Wojtowicz. He was probably born in the 1950s His parents were Walter and Sabrina. He has a sister named Sonya. I am looking for medical information. He will be happy to hear from me as he was trying to communicate with me years ago. Is he your friend, who commented on your site in Nov 2007?
Please ask him. It is imperative that I reach him. You can contact me at cjs33@telus.blackberry.net.
Thank you
Comment by Marg Smit — September 10, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
Hey Nick.
This is it. I have figured out what causes so called als and I can show people who are experiencing it how to get healthy.
I am in Rye, New York and learned a lot in my many years sailing everything from Sunfish in New Jersey to a Cape Cod Cat in Orleans Massachussetts, some of which I am applying now as I teach people to heal.
If you can sail, you can heal. You could use an instructor and I am a pretty good one.
Anything is solvable.
Regards,
Marty Murray
Comment by Marty Murray — September 11, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
Mr. Scandone,
You probably do not remember me but I was sailing Radials in the 2006 CISA Clinic when you were coaching 420’s. It was my first year at CISA and my greenest in terms of racing experience. However when you spoke to all the CISA sailors one night about your career and experiences in sailing, you really drove me to push myself even further into the sailing world. Not a day goes by since that night when I remember your words and your struggle. You have reinforced in me a true love of this sport and have since been to three Laser world campionships and several national champs. since that presentation. But it is not just the glory of the sport that really drove me to suceed, it was my everlasting passion.
You have done an exceptional and an unforgettable job at the ‘08 games. Yet again you have proven that hard work and love for your work always pays off. I wish you all the happiness and keep sailing!! You have done well.
Take Care!
Yours Very Respectfully,
Philip Lozier
Jr. Commodore
Coronado Yacht Club
Comment by Philip Lozier — September 13, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
I went to elementary school with you, and you always had such a great spirit! I see that you still do! Congrats on your win in Beijing. Fortunately, I got to see you drop the puck tonight at the Ducks game, and you look great. Keep up the faith because you are an inspiration to us all!
Comment by Jennifer Nielsen Moore — October 20, 2008 @ 12:55 am
Congratulations on your Olympic success. We were on the OCC sailing team together many years ago. I live in Canyon Lake with my husband and family and Taz, who was also on the team, lives down the street. Small world huh? You are a true insperation. Good luck and much continued success. K.M.
Comment by Kathy Mulcahy (Fletcher) — October 30, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
nick, you’re STILL amazing! congratulations on your GOLD MEDAL!!!
i miss you, spider- i wish we could live it all again…only this time around i could be the medalist in…oh, i don’t know..childbirthing or something cool! stay happy, nick….PEACE
Comment by mary nolten a.k.a. jordan — November 3, 2008 @ 3:38 am
We are awed and inspired by your preserverance to achieve your dream! Keep Dreaming!!!
Comment by Harriet Lewis Pallette — November 7, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Mr. Scandone,
I just saw NBC’s coverage of the Paralympics this morning. Congratulations on your GOLD MEDAL!!! Wow - what a hard fought victory. I can’t even express in words what inspiration you are to me. I was born with orthopedic problems and later MS and asthma. Your strength and courage is such a blessing to me to always do my best and to work harder in everything I do. My brother loves to sail in his Annapolis Maryland home area; along with a lot of regattas around the US. I hope the GOLD MEDAL brings you some joy, but I will be adding you to my prayers for many more little joy moments to come and for your healing. Lov, prayers & blessings always Janie Rae
Comment by Janie Rae Schmid (Riedle) — November 9, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Hi Mr. Scandone,
NBC is currently re-broadcasting the 2008 Para Olympics documentary on December 6th, 2008.
Well done on your achievement!
God bless you,
Bridget
Comment by Bridget — December 6, 2008 @ 6:50 pm
Nick!
Your strength has touched my life!
I pray Christ will bring you peace and life everlasting.
You are a hero!
Comment by Susan Hendrix — December 6, 2008 @ 6:51 pm
Nick passed away today… a hearo to us all for overcoming adversity. He will be greatly missed in the sailing and ALS fight
Comment by Shea Thorvaldsen — January 2, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
To Mary Kate and family … you are in my prayers during this difficult time. May God bless you, especially now.
Comment by Nora — January 6, 2009 @ 12:16 am
I never knew Nick except through sailing news, but his courage and determination should be an inspiration to all of us. I wish I had enjoyed the honor and pleasure of Nick’s acquaintance. Most of us would probably be better people if we were a bit more like Nick.
Comment by Jamie Leopold — January 7, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
I am sorry to hear about Nick …. I too am an old friend from OCC Sailing Team. I tried looking for him many times. It wasn’t until tonight that another old friend of his (Noel) found me on a website and told me of his passing … my heart broke. He was such a great guy and I have so many fond memories from knowing him.
I wish his family well ….
Comment by Annette Salazar — February 13, 2009 @ 11:55 pm