Funeral arrangements set for Tom Cutinella, Shoreham-Wading River football player who died after on-field injury

A funeral Mass for Tom Cutinella, the Shoreham-Wading River High School junior who died after he was injured during his football team's game against Elwood's John Glenn High School, will be celebrated Tuesday morning at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Wading River.

Visitation will be at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday and from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday. The church is at 1488 North Country Rd. The Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the school district confirmed details of the funeral and visitation.

Because of the funeral, the Shoreham-Wading River district has designated Tuesday as a superintendent's conference day, which means there is no school for students.

Cutinella, 16, was blocking during the third quarter when he collided with an opponent during the game on Glenn's field Wednesday afternoon. He fell to the ground, got up and collapsed almost immediately.

He sustained a brain injury and died at Huntington Hospital.

Hundreds attended a vigil Thursday afternoon at Shoreham-Wading River High School, paying homage to the student they admired, the athlete they respected and the friend they loved.

The Shoreham-Wading River Wildcat Athletic Club established a scholarship fund in Cutinella's memory. The scholarship will go to a student-athlete who epitomizes "what Tom stood for in the sports and academic world," said Ed Troyano, the club's president.

He said he has been inundated with calls from people who want to contribute.

"I think when you have a member of the community who has excelled in athletics and excelled academically and was so involved in community service and came from a wonderful family that supported all those attributes -- we felt something should be set up . . . so we never forget what kind of student and athlete he was," Troyano said.

Donations can be made online by visiting swrwac.org.