New Scholarship Honors Late Huntington Manor Firefighter Mason Kraese

HUNTINGTON STATION, NY — A new scholarship will honor the life of Mason Kraese, a Huntington Manor firefighter and Walt Whitman High School graduate who died in an ATV accident on Aug. 30 in upstate New York. He was 27.

The Mason Kraese Technical Scholarship will award $500 annually for the next 11 years to Walt Whitman High School students pursuing technical or trade careers — a path that those who knew Mason say reflects both his talents and his values.

The idea emerged among several people deeply connected to Kraese’s life: his parents, Walt Whitman Principal Dr. John Murphy, Town Councilman Dr. Dave Bernardo, and Shadon Brady, a former Huntington Manor fire chief and longtime family friend. Brady’s son, Patrick, had been one of Mason’s closest friends from childhood onward.

The two shared the Cub Scouts, the fire department juniors, countless school memories, and ultimately graduated together in the Walt Whitman Class of 2016. Their families remained close, and that bond shaped Brady’s drive to help create something meaningful in Kraese’s honor.

“He was a very close friend to the family, and he pretty much did everything with Patrick from Webelos, the Cub Scouts, the Boy Scouts, to school, to the fire department," he said. "When Mason passed away, I wanted to do something to keep his name going. We do a ton of scholarships in the fire service every year, but we never do any technical institute scholarships. Since Mason was in the unions and a blue-collar guy, it only made sense that we would carry his legacy on by providing a scholarship for technical schools.”

To turn the idea into a sustainable program, Brady helped raise funds by raffling one of his antique fire helmets and selling custom helmet shields and decals.

The community responded quickly; within just over three weeks, enough funding was secured to establish more than a decade of annual awards. Murphy and Bernardo then worked with Brady and the Kraese family to formalize the scholarship’s structure, criteria, and long-term administration.

A School Community Reflects on Mason’s Path

For the district, the scholarship represents a partnership rooted in long-standing relationships between families and schools. Murphy recalled sitting with Mason’s parents and Brady as they discussed the type of student the scholarship should serve.

“They wanted to make sure that Mason’s legacy, as not only someone who worked with the fire department, but also his pathway in terms of post-secondary education, was honored,” he said. “They wanted to find students like Mason who would be identified as people that are great students, great role models, great community activists, but maybe are not college-bound, but are going more on the vocational side.”

Murphy described the scholarship as something that “allows all students at Whitman to feel that people appreciate who they are,” not just those following traditional academic paths. “Every student group here in some way has an ability to be able to make a connection to not only their community but also to the people that value what they are and who they are and what direction they’re going in life,” he said.

For vocational-path students, he added, the scholarship “gives a chance… to feel like people notice the work they do and the amount of effort they put in.”

Superintendent Dr. Vito D’Elia, who knew Mason from his years as principal at Maplewood Intermediate School, described the scholarship’s creation as both moving and bittersweet.

“Under the circumstances, it's very sad — because the reason for the scholarship, unfortunately, is that we lost Mason,” D’Elia said. “He was a special student — great kid, great family.”

Supporting students entering trades, he added, remains central to the district’s mission.

“As superintendent, it makes me feel very good that we offer a lot for our students here and we're able to help them when choosing a path in life, which way they want to go, whether it's college or vocational schools.”

A Teacher Remembers the Heart Behind the Legacy

Mason’s former teacher, Stacey Buonasera, said she still remembers him vividly — not because of grades or assignments, but because of the warmth and humor he brought into every room.

“As a person, he was simply hysterical,” she said. “He could always make us laugh and had a knack for saying silly things that lightened the mood. He always had a friendly smile and made everyone feel welcome, especially new students.”

Buonasera hopes recipients understand the heart behind the award.

“Mason left a legacy of helping others,” she said. “He loved making people smile when they were down and had a big heart for others' feelings. He was selfless; he always put everyone else first.”

A Tribute That Lives Through Others

Brady requested that Mason’s family present the award each year, ensuring the scholarship remains a personal testament to their son.

“What I want to do is give his family a platform to tell their son's story every year,” he said. “I would think [Mason] would absolutely love it. He was big into… working with your hands and fighting fires and just — bringing it back to basics.”

The first Mason Kraese Technical Scholarship will be awarded this spring, continuing a legacy defined by service, humor, hard work, and the friendships that shaped Kraese’s life.

“We value the alumni that leave us, no matter if they left here 50 years ago or five years ago,” Murphy said. “Their imprint on the school and the community is always appreciated and always welcome back.”