Matt Buriak scholarship established

Ledyard - A scholarship fund in memory of Matthew Buriak, the 16-year-old Ledyard High School junior who died Tuesday, has been established through his school.

Buriak collapsed on Saturday during a junior varsity football game at Fitch High School. He was hospitalized in critical condition at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich and Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford. His family terminated life support on Tuesday and chose to donate their son's organs.

Donations to the Matt Buriak Scholarship Fund can be sent to Ledyard High School at 24 Gallup Hill Road, Ledyard, CT 06339.

Buriak's wake is scheduled for Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes in Gales Ferry. His funeral will be there at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with burial to follow at Avery Stoddard Cemetery. On a Facebook group called "Pray for Matt Buriak," his sister, Melissa, wrote that her brother's friends should wear blue and gold, Ledyard's school colors, on Saturday.

Head football coach Jim Buonocore, who was also Buriak's gym teacher this year, said the team will carry Buriak's No. 23 jersey and helmet onto the gridiron with them today and present them to his parents after the game. He said Buriak was an integral part of Ledyard High School.

"Matt was the full package: he was an honor roll student, a three-sport athlete, and a talented musician," Buonocore said. "He was a great person and had that uncanny ability to make everyone around him a little bit better and make your day a little bit brighter."

He said the past few days have been difficult for his team, but they have received support from the community. Zach Hurd, a member of the UConn football squad that lost teammate Jasper Howard, who was stabbed to death early on the morning of Oct. 18, spoke to the team this week, talking about how his team dealt with unexpected tragedy.

"It's been a difficult few days," Buonocore said. "But each day is a new day and each day we're fighting the good fight."

m.collette@theday.com