Hi, my name is Kathy Hidalgo, I'm Anthony's mom.

Anthony Fimognari was my 20 yr old son who passed away unexpectedly on September 29, 2018. My world remains shattered and I will never be the same. I don’t want the tragedy of my son’s death to take away the beauty of his life.

Anthony wasn't just anybody, he was one of those individuals who was truly unforgettable; he was a beautiful, creative and sensitive soul. He was also an overcomer, he was bullied pretty badly in school when he came out as gay. Around that time his big sister Gina, who he adored, had just moved 6 hours away to go to college in Chicago. He found his niche in music and theater. Both of which take a tremendous amount of bravery to perform and open yourself up to criticism.

Anthony was a hero to his family; this humble young boy honed his skill and became a stand-out performer on the theatre stage and the music scene, particularly classical saxophone and clarinet. He loved his family and friends fiercely and was on his journey in life at the University of Akron about to enter into his junior year. He was on a great pathway and his family and friends were over the top in support of his musical future.

Somewhere in the demands of life, he got into trouble and became addicted to opioids. He came to his family and asked for help. He immediately agreed to go to rehab to get back on track. Many conversations were had about his wanting the next semester of school to start because he was excited to get back to work. We planned for his return to school in the spring. He was so happy to be back home with his family. He was only home a day and a half when it happened.

I only share something so personal because I don’t want Anthony's death to be in vain. Addiction doesn't define the person. Each person gets to choose how they live; they should be remembered for who they chose to be as a person, not what a misunderstood disease says they are. My sweet boy was the kindest, most original person I ever met, and I had the honor of being his mom.

My story is a mother's attempt to take a tragedy that has befallen my son and turning it into a positive. A way to keep my sons memory alive while making a difference in the lives of students to come. A way to continue Anthony's song.

Anthony Fimognari Memorial Scholarship

Thank you for helping to keep Anthony's memory alive