After a 10 month heroic battle, Madeline O’Hare Schmidt gained her angel wings on Saturday, December 31, 2022. Maddie was born on October 14, 2014, the beautiful baby girl to Gregory Michael Schmidt & Nora Christine (O’Hare) Schmidt of Southampton, MA. Completing her family, she joined the best two big brothers William Roy & Patrick John. During her far too short time in this world, Maddie inspired all who were lucky enough to know her with her kind heart. She was often silly, at times sassy, smart, compassionate, generous and simply the happiest and bravest little girl. As the youngest sister and cousin on both sides, Maddie was incredibly wise beyond her years and brought her one of a kind charm and grace to everything she did. Maddie loved playing soccer, gymnastics and softball and would be the first to tell you how she was voted President of her Kindergarten class at the William E. Norris School. She loved riding her bike, scooter and skateboard around the neighborhood, swimming, tik-tok-ing, slime & art projects, often surprising those she loved with her beautiful works of art. She also loved games, although you had to watch her closely because at times she could be found sneaking a card or two up her sleeve. She was known for giving the best hugs that would always make any day all the brighter. Maddie had so much fun traveling to Marco Island and Disney World with her entire family, including the trip of a lifetime after she was diagnosed. Most of all, Maddie loved spending time with her family at Lake Sunapee. In the winters she would bomb down the ski hills and splash in the hot tub. Summers were spent tubing, knee boarding, paddle boarding, jumping off the dock, fishing, chasing sunsets and notoriously watching her own fireworks shows that seemed to get bigger each year. It was at Lake Sunapee that Maddie completed her first 5K and inspired the idea behind Magic for Maddie. Maddie’s family will be forever grateful for the community that rallied behind Maddie at this event and throughout her fight against DIPG, a rare form of pediatric brain cancer. 

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In that spirit, plans are underway to fund a scholarship in her name at Hampshire Regional High School.  We are also working on many other ways to honor Maddie's memory and pay our gratitude forward to support the DIPG community as well as local families going through the unimaginable.

 

Please stay tuned and thank you for your continued support.