Y Kid Pays it Back

At 20 years old, Sean Schatzman encompassed a wisdom and compassion beyond his years. Born to a cocaine-addicted mother, Sean had enormous physical and emotional hurdles to overcome with his adopted mom Yvonne at his side each step of the way. The experts said Sean would never be able to function on his own, but he did, and when he passed away July 8, 2007 Sean had built a life most adults would envy.

Sean became a “Y” kid at an early age attending Y daycare, then swimming laps with the Y Sharks and playing in basketball leagues. Both Sean and his mother always said the Y was the one place Sean felt he belonged. The acceptance he felt at the Y allowed him to grow and mature. He became a Y employee after years of volunteer work with us and soon came to earn the distinction of being the fastest towel folder. Sean also loved greeting members at the front desk of the Frank G. Berlin, Sr. branch.

“Sean was a wonderful human being who wanted people to be happy and do well. He once told me if a job needs to be done right then he needs to do it. It’s that honesty and determination that endear him to all of us,” said senior YMCA vice president Jim Purdy.

To be sure other kids with similar challenges get the same breaks, Sean set up a perpetual scholarship fund to help other kids with disabilities. Each year, he selected one or two students from Sarasota High School to receive scholarships for YMCA programs and services. One year he commented on one of the scholarship recipients: “I looked around at other kids in the class and thought about who could really use the scholarships. One kid desperately wanted to workout; the other is in a wheel chair. The student in the wheel chair has always wanted to stand. I figure he can be lifted into the therapy pool and be able to stand up for the first time in his life.”

Each pay period Sean would set aside a portion of his pay for his scholarship fund. Since his death donations to the scholarship/memorial fund have surpassed $11,000. Anyone wishing to help his fund grow can do so by making a contribution to: YMCA Foundation, c/o Sean Schatzman Scholarship Fund.