Levi J. DeMatteis Foundation Fund Established to Support Families and Local Youth
The Levi J. DeMatteis Foundation Fund has been established in honor of Levi, who passed away in September 2026 at age sixteen following a courageous battle against malignant melanoma. The mission of the foundation is based on Levi’s initials: Lasting Hope, Joining Hands, and Delivering Help. The fund will be used to honor Levi’s legacy and help those in the community.
Levi was a junior at Rome Free Academy (RFA), where he was known as a bright student, gifted athlete, and valued friend. He excelled academically and was admired by his teachers and peers, demonstrating a strong commitment to his education. A dedicated athlete, Levi played varsity soccer and tennis for RFA. Outside of school, Levi enjoyed skiing and pickleball. He worked at Kennedy Arena in Rome as an ice-skating attendant and picked up jobs cutting lawns and detailing cars. Above all, Levi’s strong faith was at the center of his life. He carried it with a strength and conviction that touched those around him. His kindness, humor, and love for others were a few of the many qualities that reflected who he was as a young man.
Established by Levi’s family, the fund aims to expand access to resources and opportunities for others in the community. Initial areas of focus will include an educational scholarship for a graduating senior from RFA, awards for Rome City School District graduating 6th graders, and camp scholarships for children attending Camp Shiloh at Delta Lake—a place that Levi looked forward to attending every summer. His family is planning on expanding support to families going through the struggles of childhood cancer in the future.
“We wanted to establish this fund as a way to honor Levi and give back to the community that has supported our family through this incredibly difficult time,” said Levi’s parents, Jeff and Rena DeMatteis. “Levi approached life with an infectious joy, a generous heart, and a deep appreciation for the people around him, guided by a strong faith in Jesus that was always at the forefront of everything he did. It is our hope that, through this fund, we can carry on the values he embodied, create meaningful opportunities for others, and ensure that his legacy continues to make a difference in the community he loved.”
To make a charitable donation, visit www.foundationhoc.org/levi or send checks payable to the Levi J. DeMatteis Foundation Fund to the Community Foundation, 2608 Genesee St., Utica, NY 13502.
