ABOUT PETER FRENCH

Peter French was born on December 26, 1974 in Winchester, where he was raised and spent the majority of his life. As a child, Peter participated on many town teams including Youth Basketball, Youth Soccer, and Youth Baseball. He was the point guard of many basketball teams (including his 7th grade team that went 32-1), a leading scorer on soccer teams that made repeated trips to the state tournament, and a leading hitter on the Bambino All-Star team that won the state title.

Peter's success in athletics continued into high school. On the soccer field, he was a 3-year starter, a 2-year Middlesex League All-Star, and a tri-captain of the 1992 Middlesex League Championship team. On the tennis court, he was a 3-year starter in doubles and a 2-year captain. And on the basketball court, he was a 2-year member and starting point guard of the 1993 team that made a deep run in the state tournament, including a 15-assist performance in an upset of #2 North Andover.

Athletics continued to play a large role in Peter's life after high school. He formed a Club Soccer team at Colgate University, and while a visiting student at Brandeis University during his junior year in college, he played on the varsity soccer team. After graduating from Colgate in 1997, he continued to play soccer, basketball, and tennis.

Following graduation, Peter worked at John Hancock, Fidelity Investments, Satellite Asset Management in New York City, and Wellington Management Company in Boston. He maintained an interest in music, reading, physical fitness, sports, and travel. His greatest qualities were personal warmth, generosity and kindness, an infectious sense of humor, a love of humanity, and unwavering loyalty to family and friends.

Soccer was always one of Peter's biggest passions, and while playing in an indoor soccer game, he collapsed. The world lost a shining star with his sudden and tragic passing on April 29, 2002 at the age of 27. To visit the Peter French Memorial Website, click here.

ABOUT PETER FRENCH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

The Peter French Memorial Foundation is a charitable trust which has been established in memory of Peter. This tax exempt organization was created with two purposes in mind: to provide direct financial assistance to needy persons and to provide funds for medical research.

One of Peter's greatest qualities was his unwavering loyalty and devotion to his friends and family. Remembering his compassion and generosity, the Foundation will provide temporary grants to those suffering severe hardship due to loss of employment, illness, or other setback. Those who think they are eligible, or know of others who may be, are encouraged to contact any member of the French family for specific criteria. A general summary of eligibility requirements can be found at the bottom of this page.

The other purpose of the Foundation is to donate funds for research in ARVD, the heart condition from which Peter passed away. ARVD (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia) is a rare, progressive heart disease in which the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis, causing abnormal heart rhythms. Although it is a relatively uncommon cause of sudden cardiac death, it may account for roughly 1/5 of sudden cardiac deaths in people under 35 years of age and is one of the leading causes of death of young athletes. More research is needed to solve the problems of understanding, diagnosing, treating, and ultimately curing this relatively unknown heart condition. For more information on ARVD, you can visit Johns Hopkins Medicine's ARVD website at www.arvd.com.

The Foundation is supported by generous donations, as well as coordinated fundraising activities and events. If you have any ideas/suggestions for future fundraising events, or would like to help with one, please contact the French family. Contributions, which are tax deductible, are gratefully accepted and may be eligible for employer matching gift programs. Donations may be sent to the Peter French Memorial Foundation, Attn: Nancy, Winchester Savings Bank, 661 Main Street, Winchester, MA 01890.

Eligibility Requirements

All are eligible, but priority will be given to those who meet the following criteria:

1. 1. Graduates of Winchester High School in the classes of 1989 through 1998 and their immediate families;
2. 2. Graduates of Colgate University in the classes of 1994 through 2000;
3. 3. Those who participated in Winchester club sports and graduated from any high school in the classes of 1989 through 1998;
4. 4. Individuals who were on a high school or college varsity team located in the Northeast between 1987 and 2000; and/or
5. 5. Individuals who began their careers in the years 1990 through 2004 in the northeastern portion of the United States and their immediate families.

To apply for a grant, applicants are required to send a letter to the Trustees, with specific details concerning each of the following areas:

1. 1. Income over the last three years,
2. 2. Present assets,
3. 3. Reason for request (problem), and
4. 4. Statement from one other person attesting to the need.

This information should be sent to:
      Trustees of the Peter French Memorial Foundation
      23 Hollywood Road
      Winchester, MA 01890

Application deadline is October 15 of each year.

Contact Information

Leslie or Vandy French (Peter's Parents) - e-mail Mr. and Mrs. French
Van French (Peter's older brother) - e-mail Van
Chris French (Peter's younger brother) - e-mail Chris