Naming Newton North High School's New Field After Ucal McKenzie

  • by: n/a
  • recipient: Newton Community
Many people in the Newton community have expressed interest in having the Newton North High School's new field be named after the late Ucal McKenzie, former NNHS guidance counselor and boys varsity soccer coach. This site will allow people to sign the petition so that it can be viewed by the naming committee. Below is more information about Ucal, and the impact he had on the Newton and Boston communities. 
Ucal McKenzie wasn't famous, but he was an athlete. He wasn't a wealthy NFL or NBA superstar with shoe deals and corporate sponsorships -- he was an unpaid club soccer player. Yet he shared an unfortunate common bond with more well known athletes such as Gaines Adams, Korey Stringer, Reggie Lewis and Hank Gathers: he died suddenly, unexpectedly of heart failure while playing the game he loved. And did so, coincidentally, not far from the court where fellow Boston resident Lewis passed away. 
But what could have been another all too familiar story of a young man dying too soon, and a young widow coping in the aftermath, has become a story of inspiration and education for an entire community. Because not only was Ucal an accomplished soccer player, he was also a highly dedicated, respected coach, guidance counselor and mentor to countless young people in the Boston area, who gave endlessly, tirelessly to others. So in the wake of his untimely passing, his widow, Suzanne, both to come to terms with his death and honor his life, founded the Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation. Its motto, "For soccer, for life" says it all. Because The Breakaway Foundation runs youth soccer clinics in and around Boston with the help of corporate sponsors such as Nike and the New England Revolution, and with the selfless time and effort of volunteers -- not just Ucal's friends and loved ones, but perfect strangers who were inspired by what he stood for and how he lived his life. And, perhaps more important, the UMBF also encourages young people to strive for success, develop strong character and help their communities away from the soccer pitch. 
Yes, this is a sports story. Aside from his family and friends, there was nothing Ucal, a native of Jamaica, loved more than soccer, and sports have always had the power to unite and galvanize entire communities. But it's also a much larger story of how one incredible young man, thanks to how he lived his life off the field, inspired people of all ages, races and social backgrounds to be better citizens, friends and neighbors, and how, after his death, he's still inspiring people to achieve their goals and empowering them through the foundation's health programs such as CPR and defibrillator training and distribution, and nutrition initiatives.
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