David E. Medeiros' Legacy Continues on Medfield High School Stage

The current seniors involved in Theatre Society were only five years old in 1999 and are likely too young to remember David Medeiros.

But knowing or not knowing him did not prevent these seniors from honoring his memory this past weekend with a presentation of “The Hot Seat – A night of one act plays to benefit the David E. Medeiros Memorial Scholarship.”

Medeiros was a 1999 Medfield High School graduate and a four-year member of the Medfield Theatre Society. He passed away in 2002 from pancreatic cancer while in his junior year at Tufts University.

Medeiros was a remarkable individual; he continued to study and stayed involved with theatre productions at Tufts University while undergoing cancer treatment. During his last year of life, while battling cancer, Medeiros became a patient/teacher at Harvard Medical School. He felt it was important for physicians to see each person as an individual, not just as another person with cancer.

As mentioned in the theatre program, “David was also the featured contributor in an educational video, supported by a Kenneth B. Schwartz Center grant, in which he personally related the impact of cancer on young adults.”

Pauline and Frank Medeiros, David’s parents, are very proud of his accomplishments and his legacy.

“When we get to speak about David, it’s very, very meaningful and emotional for us,” said Pauline. "He was Major General in The Pirates of Penzance. He absolutely loved the Theatre Society at Medfield High … he loved people … and he stayed involved with theatre at Tufts. Each year a scholarship is given to a graduate who is a member of the Theatre Society and possesses the qualities David demonstrated.”

After Medeiros passed away in March of 2002, the “David E. Medeiros Scholarship” fund was created and the first recipient was a Classs of 2002 Theatre Society member. Many of the seniors from that class knew David and the recipient of that scholarship was a freshman when Medeiros was a senior at Medfield High School.

This year the 11th “David E. Medeiros Scholarship” will be awarded. MaryAnn Hatem, MHS Theatre Society Director, said students are told about Medeiros and the one-act plays at the beginning of the school year, so they understand the purpose behind this performance.

“The Medfield Theatre Society has a strong sense of tradition and legacy," said Hatem. "This brings it closer to home … and its tangible. David was one of those kids that everyone liked. He was a gentleman … he had charm, a sense of humor ... he was hard working and talented ... a great role model."

This past weekend, MHS Theatre Society seniors were in charge of “The Hot Seat” performance, a series of senior directed “one-act” plays. Some of these plays were not only directed by senior students they were also written by them. The purpose of this performance is to honor Medeiros and raise funds, which go directly to this scholarship.

MHS senior Chris Fennell, president of the Medfield Theatre Society and stage manager and director of one of the plays, spoke about this performance.

“The one-acts are a lot different than the show last spring ... with this show, the directors are all senior students. We all know what’s at stake here; one of these seniors will receive that scholarship.”

MHS senior Andrew Velichansky, vice president of the Medfield Theatre Society and co-director of one of the plays said, “the energy is totally different with these one-act plays … it’s a relaxing environment and we are doing this for a good cause.”

As stated in the MHS Theatre Society program:

“In June of 2002, the Theatre Society seniors and the Directors of the Theatre Society, instituted a scholarship in David’s memory. This Theatre Society award is given annually to that individual who exemplifies the outstanding qualities David demonstrated: genuine concern for others, leadership, school and community involvement, and personal and academic achievement. The David E. Medeiros Theatre Society Memorial Scholarship is supported by the annual production of student directed one-act plays and David’s family.”

There were eight one-act plays performed and the seniors that wrote, directed and acted in them showed creativity and talent.  

This year, the $1,000 Memorial Scholarship will go to one senior from the Medfield Theatre Society and the legacy of David Medeiros will continue.