More than a year has passed since Kaitlyn Doorhy lost her life in a tragic accident while away at college, but friends, family, and the community who loved her are steadfast in their mission to unite and keep her beautiful spirit alive forever in the places where she left a forever legacy.
Just recently, Kait’s Angels, a non-profit organization created to carry on her lifetime mission of good works and philanthropy, has been involved in two events.
The first was the dedication of a trophy case at Mattituck High School in her honor by the Mattituck-Cutchogue Athletic Booster Club.
And on Saturday, Kait’s Angels and the Doorhy family headed to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut for “Kait’s Day at Sacred Heart,” a homecoming tailgate party at the homecoming football game versus Central Connecticut State.
Of the new trophy case, Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School Superintendent Dr. Anne Smith said, “The community support for the Mattituck High School trophy case and the dedication ceremony went beyond our expectations and was completed in much the same way that Kaitlyn lived her life — quiet, thoughtful and beautiful work. The donations of time, materials and funds were amazing.
In addition, Smith said, “We were so impressed with the quality and efficiency that went into this project.”
Reflections by Gail Angel and Molly Waitz “helped us to remember how important Kaitlyn’s memory is in our day-to-day interactions with each other and the ways we honor tradition in our schools and in our community. It was a very special dedication and one that will be part of our collective memory as a community,” she said.
Darla Doorhy, Kaitlyn’s mom, said the day held special meaning. “The dedication meant the world to our family, another way to keep Kaitlyn’s memory alive,” she said. “Now when we enter Mattituck High School to vote, to attend concerts and school functions, we will always see our angel Kaitlyn’s beautiful smile staring at us.”
Dr. Smith, who served as master of ceremonies, brought a personal touch to the dedication, Doorhy said.
“She told a childhood story about Kaitlyn in kindergarten and had the audience laughing,” she said. “Followed by Dr. Anne Smith was a family friend of the Doorhys, Gail Angel, who brought us to tears with her beautiful compassionate speech, and last was Molly Waitz, who talked about how Kaitlyn touched lives in so many ways, that Kait‘s Angels was created to keep her memory alive,” she said. “It was another beautiful day shared by our friends, school staff and family to honor our beautiful daughter.”
A bonfire in Kait’s memory was also a focal point of Mattituck’s homecoming festivities.
A crowd turned out for Saturday’s homecoming and tailgate party at Sacred Heart University. “All of Kait’s Angels and Kappa Delta sisters were on the field during half time, when they announced Kait’s Angels and told a nice story about Kaitlyn,” said Kait’s father, Joe Doorhy. “Over 5,000 people were there, and when the announcer spoke of Kaitlyn, you could hear a pin drop in the stadium.”
Molly Waitz, who attended the ceremony Saturday, said the day was beautiful in myriad ways. “Our angel gave us gorgeous weather for the second year in a row for Kait’s Day,” she said.
The group included more than 50 from the North Fork who met at the Port Jefferson ferry, all packed with food from home, and donations from local delis.
Once they arrived at Sacred Heart, the group gathered around the tree planted in Kait’s memory by her roommates, for a prayer and a blessing.
Next, they headed to the tailgate site, where a new pop-up Kait’s Angels tent had T-shirts, hats, Kait’s Kits, handmade soap and lip balm for sale, to raise funds for Kait’s Angels.
Everyone enjoyed all the food and one another’s company before heading over to watch the game, Waitz said. “During the second quarter SHU let us go on the field while they told the whole audience about the Kait’s Angels organization.”
They also announced the next event, a double header basketball game on December 12 to raise awareness about Kait’s Angels, Waitz said.
“While we were on the field those who were in the stands gave us their undivided attention.”
Many others joined their group at SHU, Waitz said.
“I am so grateful to be a part of this organization and community as a whole. Through this awful tragedy the North Fork community has shown what we do best — stick together and help one another,” she said.
Another heartfelt moment was when Waitz, who wanted to be sure there were photos of Kait’s Angels on the field, asked a “random stranger” if he would take some with her phone. “I left my iPhone with a strangers I had never met among the hundreds and hundreds of people in the stands for over a half hour. When I went back to get it back he had taken over 30 pictures and they were all great. This is the type of person that goes to Sacred Heart. Kind, honest people. Just like Kaitlyn. No wonder she picked SHU.”
The bond is deeply mutual, with Sacred Heart University committed to celebrating Kait’s legacy. “Kaitlyn was and will always be a beloved member of our campus community. This past Saturday was another opportunity for Sacred Heart to honor her memory, which lives on through the many random acts of kindness of Kait’s Angels. Having the Doorhys and many of our new friends from the Mattituck community share in the day made it that much more special,” said Larry Wielk, dean of students at Sacred Heart University.
On August 22, which marked one year since Kait lost her life, her family organized a special memorial mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on Main Road in Mattituck.
At the mass, a speaker gave a moving presentation about the life-saving impacts of organ donation; she is the recipient of a liver. After Kait died, her family donated her organs so that she could continue her lifelong dedication to giving back.
The community has mourned the former Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Queen, coming together to form Kait’s Angels and do good works and random Angel Acts of kindness.
A Buddy Bench was dedicated in her honor at Cutchogue East and others will be added at North Fork elementary schools in her name. Also, on her 21st birthday in heaven, a Kait’s Angels designer Wingo event raised funds.
SoutholdLOCAL photos courtesy of Doorhy family, Mark F. Conrad at Sacred Heart University, and Molly Waitz.
