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Memorial Honors Star Ossining Athlete Christian Federico

OSSINING, N.Y. -- Representing Ossining High School meant everything to Christian Federico.

A memorial set up in honor of Christian Federico at Ossining High School.

A memorial set up in honor of Christian Federico at Ossining High School.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Luanne Federico

Federico was a star football and baseball player, who also played basketball. He died while jogging on April 30, 2010, while attending the University of Maryland.

The Christian Federico Memorial Wall has recently been installed at Dilley Field at Ossining High School to replace a sticker that was peeling off and to better remember his legacy at Ossining.

"It's absolutely amazing," Christian's mother, Luanne Federico said. "They did a wonderful job. We were very very happy to cooperate. It was a group effort."

Federico said representing Ossining High School was Christian's whole world. Christian ended up being captain of the baseball and football team.

"He was an only child so everyone the team was his brother," Federico said. "Football was his most favorite sport, but he had a great mind for baseball. He was a student of the game."

Federico said after the game, athletes and their families would go to the Landmark Diner, where they were treated like local celebrities.

"It was a joy," Federico said. "The whole community supported these guys. It was the best years of his life. IT was wonderful."

Since Christian's death, a scholarship fund has been set up in his memory, with a softball tournament being held in Yonkers Saturday, keeping his memory alive.

"It's fabulous," Federico said. "I can't even explain it, there's a real camaraderie. If you have a 23 bumper sticker, someone will see you and give you a thumbs up. It's gratifying to see how he's being remembered."

Ossining football coach Dan Ricci called Christian a standout athlete who worked hard and put the team first.

"He was a key member of the 2007 sectional and regional champion football team as well as a standout baseball player," Ricci said. "He was a selfless outstanding teammate and friend to everyone he came in contact with."

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