$8K Gift Benefits Breast Cancer Scholarship Fund In Memory of Former West Haven Schoolteacher

WEST HAVEN, CT — (Pictured): West Haven High School Principal Robert Bohan, third from right, receives an $8,000 donation from, from left, Mayor Dorinda Borer and Douglas J. Ruickoldt on behalf of the West Haven Breast Cancer Awareness Program on Tuesday to benefit the Susan A. Ruickoldt Scholarship Fund.

With them are, from left, West Haven Youth Soccer League President John Vinci, Westies Nutrition co-owner Amanda Forst with son Neo, Doug “the Rake” Ruickoldt, program Chairwoman Beth Sabo, Dubel’s Café owner Fred Hugendubel, Art Gilbert, and Westies Nutrition co-owner Mandy Hutchinson with son JJ.

The donation was made possible by the annual Dubel’s Golf Tournament, co-chaired by Hugendubel and Gilbert, along with contributions from Westies Nutrition and West Haven Youth Soccer.

The scholarship fund was founded in March 2003 to raise breast cancer awareness in honor of Susan Ruickoldt, who taught third grade at Savin Rock Community School before dying of breast cancer in 1997.

Borer, the Ruickoldts and Bohan thanked Sabo for her unwavering dedication to the fund, which has collected $108,000 to date and will support the scholarship for the next 29 years.

Each spring since 2003, scholarship organizers have awarded $2,000 in Ruickoldt’s memory to a female high school senior from West Haven who plans to continue her education.