NOW Y OUR N EIGHBOR Amber Dyson’s name lives on through scholarship

In 2005, Rick O’Neill moved to Rochester from his native upstate New York to work, first with Dean Foods and then Shambaugh & Son, where he is the national food group manager. From the beginning, he was impressed with how welcoming the community was, and it was not long before he was an active Optimist Club member. He also met his future wife, Deanna, and her family, including Deanna’s daughter, Amber Dyson.

“She was like a daughter,” O’Neill recalled. So it was just that much harder when, in 2020, Amber died at age 43 from cancer.

In April 2019 Dyson, a mother of four and registered pulmonary function technician at Howard Community Hospital in Kokomo, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. While undergoing three rounds of chemotherapy, she continued her work as head of the PFT department along with raising her three younger children.

After regular chemo, a double mastectomy, 32 radiation rounds of radiation treatment and a hysterectomy, it looked as if Dyson was in the clear.

“Amber was told she was all clean,” said O’Neill; however, two weeks later the cancer had metastasized to her bones and brain. She died on April 17, 2020. Since then, the O’Neills have raised Dyson’s children: Lucas, now 12; Lucinda, 11; and Dexter, 6. Her oldest, Dawson, is now 22. “It has been a blessing,” he added.

Following Dyson’s passing, the O’Neills were approached by fellow Optimists about how the club might help the family financially. However, Rick and Deanna had another idea for how Amber could be remembered.

“During Amber’s sickness her church — Church of the Heartland in Rochester — friends and strangers were so kind with meals, money, friendship and prayers,” said Rick. He recalled one instance when a complete stranger at a swim meet overheard her talking about chemo and handed her a $100 bill. “Amber had told me more than once that when she was better she was going to pay it forward.”

A graduate of IU Vincennes, Dyson’s career goal had been to teach others in the medical field. So with the help of the Optimist Club’s pancake breakfast fund- raisers, the Northern Indiana Community Foundation and many others in the community, the O’Neills were able to set up the Amber Dyson Scholarship.

The scholarship, which is now overseen by NICF, provides a graduate of Rochester, Caston or Tippecanoe Valley high Schools with $1,000 for up to four years of schooling in the medical field. And thanks to the outpouring of support over the last three years, the scholarship is already self-sustaining.

“I never expected it to go so well,” said Rick. Because of COVID, the first pancake breakfast fundraiser was not held until 2021, but subsequent events have consistently raised over $8,000 each. O’Neill also noted how the Dyson scholarship fits neatly among the Optimists many efforts helping young people.

The scholarship’s first recipient was Emma Stinson, who is now in her second year at IU Kokomo.

“There’s a lot of people I need to thank,” said O’Neill, including Rochester Iron & Metal, Church of the Heartland and many others. “I’m humbled to say the least.”

Kids fishing clinic July 1

The Fulton County Bass Masters are working with the Lake Manitou Association to host a free fishing clinic for children ages 6-13 from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, July 1. The event will take place at the Woodlawn Hospital pond. This event is part of the Lake Manitou Association’s summer events.

All fishing supplies will be provided and kids that are in attendance will get to take home their own fishing poles.

Registration is full and 40 kids will be in attendance.

*Based on Credit Score

During the event children and their guardian will stay together while the children are taught.

Lake Manitou historic boat tours on July 8

The Lake Manitou Association will be holding historic boat tours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 8.

These historic boat tours will take you on a leisurely ride around Lake Manitou on a pontoon boat. You can enjoy the sights and learn about the history of Lake Manitou. Reservations are required and the cost is $5 per person.

You can find where to make reservations in the events section of lakemanitou.org.