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Mar 21
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15-Year-Old Cancer Patient Meets Tennis Star Andy Murray
By Laura Rodriguez – Friday, Mar 21, 2014
Kyle Fonda, a 15-year-old battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma had the opportunity to meet tennis player Andy Murray, thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation.
Kyle Fonda made a wish and it came true. The 15-year-old with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma met tennis player Andy Murray and also got to practice with the champion on a Sony Open court. The Make-A-Wish Foundation flew Fonda and his family down from Gloversville, New York, to Miami to make his wish come true.
“It was awesome. To hit with Andy Murray, it was just really cool,” said Kyle Fonda. The teen was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma six months ago. He is now in remission and was able to make the trip to meet his favorite athlete.
“I hope he has a great day and if I contributed a little bit towards that then great,” said Andy Murray. Fonda has only been playing tennis for about two years, but Murray says he put on a pretty good match.
“He was better than my hitting partner today, that’s for sure. My hitting partner was making a lot of mistakes. But [Kyle] was good,” joked Murray. After playing tennis with Murray, posing for pictures, and getting fitted with Fila tennis gear, Kyle received much more than he wished for. The teen also got to watch Rafael Nadal practice and sat in at a press conference with more of the sport’s best players.
“It’s just awesome,” said Fonda. Kyle also got a tour of the Sony Open Tournament facilities. On Friday, he will have the opportunity to flip the coin prior to Murray’s match.
Wish Granted
His name won’t show up on the Sony Open score sheets, but Kyle Fonda hit some of the most memorable shots against defending champion Andy Murray on Thursday morning.
Kyle Fonda, 15, got to hit balls with his idol, Sony Open defending champion Andy Murray.
Fonda, a 15-year-old from Gloversville, N.Y., has Hodgkin’s lymphoma and spent the day at the tournament through the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Fonda plays tennis for his high school team, and his wish was to attend the Sony Open and meet Murray, his favorite player.
He got to hit with the world No. 6 and attend Murray’s news conference. He also met Federer and Nadal, and attended Serena Williams’ afternoon match. He was outfitted with FILA shoes, shirt, shorts and socks. He will be back Friday night to see Murray begin defense of his Sony title against Matthew Ebden on Stadium Court.
“It was really awesome to meet Andy,” Fonda said. “He took it easy on me. I’ve only been playing tennis for two years, but it’s my favorite sport. When they first told me about this wish being granted, I didn’t believe it. I believed it when we got on the airplane.”
Fonda was accompanied by his father, Tim, mother, Amy, and siblings Josh, 18, and Caitlyn, 11. Asked what most surprised him about meeting the world’s top tennis players, Fonda smiled and said: “They’re just normal people.”
Consider supporting Make-A-Wish
April 14, 2014 – The Leader Herald
I know a lot of charities are worthy of your attention and contributions, but I want to take this opportunity to tell you about my family’s experience with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The foundation generously granted a wish for my son Kyle, who is a cancer patient. Kyle, a tennis enthusiast, wished to watch a professional tennis tournament and meet tennis star Andy Murray.
The foundation and its remarkable wish makers and volunteers got right to work on Kyle’s request. They sent Kyle and his immediate family to the Sony Open tennis tournament in Miami. The foundation spent thousands of dollars to fly us from Albany, N.Y., to Miami, put us up in an upscale hotel and give us VIP treatment at the tennis tournament. Kyle not only was able to meet Andy Murray, but actually play tennis with him on a practice court. Kyle also met several other players such as Roger Federer and Serena Williams, and watched several matches with his family. In addition, Kyle played golf at a beautiful golf course and spent an afternoon on Miami Beach, all courtesy of Make-A-Wish.
It’s difficult to put into words how all of this lifted Kyle’s spirits. I am proud to say, on the day Kyle watched Murray defeat one of his opponents and shook Murray’s hand moments after the victory, I realized Andy Murray and Kyle Fonda have at least two things in common: They both enjoy tennis and they both are winners – Andy on the professional tennis tour and Kyle in his fight against cancer.
Everyone we met from Make-A-Wish and the Sony Open were kind, generous and friendly. Everything they did was designed to create happy moments and cherished memories for Kyle, and they succeeded. Kyle beamed with the widest smiles I’ve ever seen him show.
The people at Make-A-Wish are the type who make our world a better place. We didn’t know much about the foundation before our experience with it. It certainly exceeded our expectations. We encourage you to consider supporting this worthwhile organization. Make-A-Wish granted wishes to nearly 14,000 children with life-threatening illnesses in 2012 alone. Its website address is wish.org.
AMY FONDA
Gloversville
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Mar 10
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Cellist Douw Fonda to perform at Holloway Hall on March 8
For the County Times, February 16, 2014
SALISBURY — Guest cellist Douw Fonda joins the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra at Salisbury University (SSO) during its inaugural concert of 2014, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, in Holloway Hall Auditorium.
Cellist Douw Fonda to perform at Holloway Hall on March 8
Directed by Dr. Jeffrey Schoyen, the orchestra features Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto, Mozart’s Prague Symphony, Gounod’s Petite Symphony for Winds, Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe, and Dvorak’s “Silent Woods” and “Rondo,” both for cello and orchestra.
A resident of the Netherlands since 1994, Fonda received his formal training at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He played with the Cleveland and Julliard quartets and performed as a soloist with orchestras in New York and Boston. Today, he is active with Baroque and chamber ensembles including the Vespucci String Quartet, Benjamin Franklin Trio and Musica Rossi. He also is assistant principal cellist with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.
Admission is $20, $15 for seniors, $5 for children 18 and under and non-SU student ID holders. The concert is sponsored by Kuhn’s Jewelers, Eastern Shore Coffee & Water, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Staples & Associates Insurance & Finance and Erick Sahler Serigraphs.
For tickets visit www.SalisburySymphonyOrchestra.com or the Guerrieri University Center Information Desk.
Event: A Dutch duo
WHAT Chamber concert with Douw Fonda and Martin Kaaij
WHEN March 16, 3 p.m. WHERE Universalist Unitarian Church of Haverhill, rear entrance 16 Ashland St., with two parking lots available on both sides of Ashland Street COST $15 for adults, $10 for students; max per family $45, at the door. INFO 978-556-5046
The Fonda-Kaaij duo of Dutch musicians Douw Fonda, cello, and Martin Kaaij, guitar.
The Fonda-Kaaij duo of Dutch musicians Douw Fonda, cello, and Martin Kaaij, guitar, will offer a chamber music concert as part of their American Tour.
Born and educated in the United States, Fonda has been active for two decades in the Netherlands and is a sought-after chamber musician. He is also the assistant principal cellist of one of the country’s preeminent orchestras, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra in Amsterdam. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Fonda also received a Certificate in Baroque Cello from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He is a member of the Vespucci String Quartet and the founder of the “Muziek op de Dijk’ (Music on the Dike) in his current home town of Deil, the Netherlands.
Kaaij, a native of the Netherlands, is a well-known performer, recording artist and author. He enjoys searching out new repertoire for the guitar, a labor of love he began during his studies with Dick Visser at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and which continues to this day. Kaaij has performed the premiers of more than 60 new works for the guitar, and he continues to delight audiences with his performances of both new and familiar works.
The program will be a combination of solos and duets by John Dowland, Enrique Granados’ Spanish Dance #5, Joaquin Nin’s Suite Espagnole, J. S. Bach’s Suite for Unaccompanied Cello in C Major, Franz Schubert’s Sonata in a minor “Arpeggione,” and Tom Johnson’s “Failing — A Very Difficult Piece for Solo Guitar.”
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Jan 24
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30 of the best
Lining up for the Gill Melges 24 Worlds in Geelong
Audi Ultra crew including tactician Enrico Fonda, pitman Federico Buscaglia and bowman Lucia Giorgetti preparing for World Championship in Australia.
Wednesday January 22nd 2014, Author: James Boyd, Location: Australia
Boats from San Francisco to Geelong, from California to Australia, will all be chasing the title at the Melges 24 World Championship next week.
Audi Ultra is starting her 2014 sailing season facing the longest away race of all: Riccardo Simoneschi’s team ended 2013 with the World Championship in San Francisco, but has headed Down Under where over 29 January to 2 February the best teams in the class will be fighting it out to beat reigning champion Brian Porter’s Full Throttle.
Unprecedented leader and number one in the class ranking, Audi Ultra is ready for this challenge. Riccardo Simoneschi has four of his five original crew that competed on board during the last season. Vittorio Rosso, has been replaced by Luna Rossa sailor Manuel Modena, and past Melges 24 World Champion with James Spithill in 2005.
Aboard Audi Ultra will also be tactician Enrico Fonda, pitman Federico Buscaglia and bowman Lucia Giorgetti.
Holding a World Championship in Australia has thinned out the fleet , however it has raised the quality with only the most professional teams deciding to take part.
Around 30 teams will be competing in Geelong, including a group of winning teams. Besides Audi Ultra, among the favourites Flavio Favini’s Blu Moon, American Bora Gulari’s West Marine Rigging, Olympic champion Nathan Wilmot’s Kaito Northshore Marine and Harry Melges’ Star. Not to be understimated are teams like Altea of Andrea Racchelli, that has also been a regular winner. Sadly reigning Melges 24 World Champion, Brian Porter and his Full Throttle Racing Team are absent from the line-up.
“This World Championship will be hard for several reasons,” says Simoneschi. “The conditions, the race course on a very narrow bay doesn’t make it easy and then there is the fact that at least 15 teams are capable of winning. Many Australian crews will be relying on the skills of Olympic medallists in their teams and it will be tough on the start line. We have all ingredients for a successfull championship.
Links: Melges 24 Worlds Australia, Race Results, Interview with Enrico Fonda
Audi Ultra Triumphs at the Melges 24 European Sailing Series in Torbole
© 2013 Helly Hansen, Published August 1
Last weekend, July 26-28, was a great weekend for sailing. Sporting Helly Hansen gear, the Audi Ultra crew was crowned the winner of the 3rd act of the European Sailing Series in Melges 24 class. The regatta took place at Torbole and was joined by a myriad of fantastic sailing teams.
The winning crew for the Audi Ultra team was composed of helmsman Riccardo Simoneschi, tactician Enrico Fonda, trimmer Federico Buscaglia, pitman Michele Cannoni and bowman Lucia Giorgetti.
It took eight intense and hard fought races for the Audi Ultra team to secure the victory of the third stage of the series. The winning crew was composed of helmsman Riccardo Simoneschi, tactician Enrico Fonda, trimmer Federico Buscaglia, pitman Michele Cannoni and bowman Lucia Giorgetti. The team demonstrated its skills by coping with the unstable Ora wind. Their will for a win was obvious from the very beginning of the race, even with the tough competition they had to face. In the final ranking Audi Ultra got the first place and was followed by EFG Bank with an 8-point-margin, and Giogi at 3rd place. Right behind them were the Japanese team of Makoto Nagahashi & Taki 4 of Giacomo Fossati.
After racing in Torbole waters, Audi Ultra’s helmsman Simoneschi shared his impressions from the competition and his expectations of their next challenge in the continental circuit of the Melges 24 Class: “Torbole has been very important, allowing us to understand our skills in preparation for the next European Championship in Medemblick that’s taking place on the third week of August. In Holland we’ll have to face many of the same sailing teams and other more tricky ones such as Lenny, two-time Olympic medalist Tonu Toniste and Storm Capital Sail Racing of the Norwegian Peder Jahre, already three-time European Corinthian Champion.”
We wish the team luck in their preparation and we will follow with excitement the upcoming decisive stages in Medemblik, Holland (16-24 August) and Hanko, Norway (6-8 September).
More Info: Audi Sailing Team
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Jan 19
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Maxwell P Fonda MD
Passed away peacefully at his home on December 22, 2013 at the age of 100 years.
Maxwell P. Fonda passes away at 100 years old.
He was born on April 28, 1913 in Charleston, Mississippi to James and Maude Fonda. In 1923 the family moved to Southern California where they resided in Highland Park. Maxwell graduated from USC Medical School in 1942 with a degree in medicine. He served as a flight surgeon in the US Army Medical Corps during WWII with the 57th fighter group in Europe. After returning from his military duty he married his sweetheart, Winifred Rose Seidel on February 9, 1946. He then finished five years of residency in orthopedics and set up private practice in Pomona, California.in 1951. He practiced orthopedics for 40 years at both Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and San Antonio Community Hospital until retirement in 1990. He was a member of AMA, Western Orthopaedic Association and Pilgrim Congregational Church. His hobbies were fishing, fly tying and raising orchids. He lived a remarkable life and will be missed by many.
His wife Winnie preceded him in death on May 21, 1988. He is survived by a daughter, Susan Evans and husband Phil of Palm Desert, CA; son Steven Fonda and wife Patty of Carson City, NV; along with 4 grandchildren and their spouses; and 6 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 600 N. Garey Avenue, Pomona, California on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 1:00 pm.
Published in Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on Jan. 9, 2014
Also see: Findagrave, Rootsweb, Fonda Military
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Jan 09
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Estenda Solutions, Inc. Hires New Vice President of Research
Estenda Solutions, Inc. is proud to announce the hiring of Dr. Stephanie Fonda as Vice President of Research. Building on years of collaboration, hiring Dr. Fonda greatly enhances Estenda’s ability to pursue grant funding for healthcare and medical software projects.
Dr. Stephanie Fonda
Conshohocken, PA (PRWEB) January 08, 2014
Estenda Solutions, Inc. is proud to announce the hiring of Dr. Stephanie Fonda as Vice President of Research. Building on years of collaboration, hiring Dr. Fonda greatly enhances Estenda’s ability to pursue grant funding for healthcare and medical software projects.
As a scientist, Dr. Fonda has designed research projects to develop new technologies for assisting with diabetes self and care management, including a cell phone based system for sending tips and reminders to patients with diabetes, internet-based programs for facilitating patient-provider communication, patient education, and care management, and telehealth eye care programs for screening for and promoting public awareness of diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Fonda joins Estenda’s team in addition to her role as Senior Scientist at the Diabetes Institute at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where she is principle investigator on several studies and provides education on research design and methods, conducts statistical analyses, and provides sample size calculations for new research proposals, among other responsibilities.
“Historically, Estenda has collaborated with medical professionals and PhDs to apply for grant funding,” said RJ Kedziora, CIO/CTO and Co-founder of Estenda. “Hiring Dr. Fonda allows Estenda to pursue grant funding on our own and expand our service offerings assisting professionals in crafting their grant applications.”