In Memoriam

Peter grew up in Bay Shore and graduated from Bay Shore High School in 2016. He played varsity tennis, played in the jazz and marching bands, belonged to the environmental club, and was a member of Team 271. He loved the robotics team so much that he stayed on after graduating as a mentor for our high school and elementary students.

Peter shared his father’s love of aviation. He earned his airframe and powerplant license at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology and was working toward becoming a commercial pilot. He served as an Airman First Class and crew chief with the 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron of the Maryland Air National Guard, took part in exercises in Europe, and received the Air Force Achievement Medal in 2022.

Peter passed away on December 8, 2022, at the age of 24. As his squadron’s senior enlisted leader put it, “Peter was genuinely an amazing person, and his smile lit up the room.” The team’s Peter Mathews Memorial Scholarship is named in his memory.

Sully was a Verizon engineer from Huntington who mentored Team 271 for more than a decade, starting around 1999. He brought real engineering to the team’s robots, from design calculations to autonomous strategy, and helped students design and build them season after season. Through his work, Verizon helped support the team for many years.

Sully passed away on February 8, 2013, at the age of 64.

Al lived in Deer Park and retired in 1987 from the New York City Transit Authority. He mentored Team 271 for 15 years, and our students said he taught them everything they know about machines. His family asked that gifts in his memory go to the team.

Al passed away on July 25, 2017, at the age of 89.