EST. 1995
Carrying Ilio’s legacy forward
$1.3M+
Awarded to the WNY community
MEMORIAL GIFTS
Honored here
100% COMMUNITY
Every dollar stays in WNY
About Memorial Giving
A gift in their name is a legacy that lives on
The Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund welcomes memorial donations from families, friends, and colleagues who wish to honor the memory of a loved one through an act of community giving. Donations made in memory of a loved one go directly toward funding annual scholarships for Western New York student athletes who demonstrate academic achievement, athletic excellence, and commitment to their community, the values Ilio DiPaolo spent a lifetime modeling.
To have a loved one recognized on this page, contact us at (716) 825-3675.
How to Give
Three ways to make a Memorial Donation
Choose the giving method that works best for you. All donations benefit the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund and support WNY student athletes.
Donate via PayPal
The fastest and most convenient way to make a memorial donation. Your gift is processed securely through PayPal and goes directly to the Scholarship Fund.
Secure PayPal giving page
No account required
Donate by Check
Prefer to give by mail? Send a check made payable to the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund at the address below. Please include the name of the person you are honoring in the memo line.
Make checks payable to:
The Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund
3785 South Park Ave
Blasdell, NY 14219
Establish a Memorial
Would you like your loved one recognized on this page with a tribute? Contact us to have their name, dates, and a memorial note added. We are honored to help you preserve their memory.
Contact Dennis DiPaolo
Current Memorial Tribute
Honoring those who shaped this fund
The following tribute honors a founding member of the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund. Donations in their memory can be made via PayPal or check.
Coach Eric Knuutila
1947-2026
Eric Knuutila, known to generations of wrestlers as Coach K, was SUNY Niagara’s first-ever wrestling coach and a legend of Western New York athletics. He was 79 years old. Born in Ithaca, NY, he was a founding member of the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund and dedicated his life to developing young athletes with the same dedication, character, and community spirit that Ilio DiPaolo championed.
Coach Knuutila passed away unexpectedly on March 5, 2026, while with his team at the NJCAA Championships in Iowa, surrounded by the sport and the athletes he loved. He is survived by his family and by the countless wrestlers he coached, mentored, and inspired over more than five decades.
“Coach K gave everything he had to his athletes and to this community. Supporting the scholarship fund in his name is one of the most meaningful things you can do.”
Donate in Memory of Coach Eric Knuutila
All donations go directly to the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund and support WNY student athletes. Donate via PayPal or send a check to this address:
3785 South Park Ave
Blasdell, New York 14219
Previously Honored
Others we have been proud to honor
The following individuals have been honored through memorial donations to the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund over the years. Their names and their values live on through this community.
Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer
Wrestling legend, community supporter, and longtime friend of the DiPaolo family.
Galanti Family
Honored through the Galanti Scholarship Fund, a longtime benefactor of the fund.
Gloria Shea
Honored through the Gloria Shea Foundation, a benefactor of the fund.
John Kaczmarski
Honored through the John Kaczmarski Fund, a benefactor of the fund.
Matthew Foster
Honored through the Matthew Foster Foundation, a benefactor of the fund.
Nathan Carducci
Honored through the Nathan Carducci Scholarship Fund, a benefactor of the fund.
Patrick Morales
Honored through the Patrick Morales Scholarship Fund, a benefactor of the fund.
Thomas Gardner
Honored through the Thomas Gardner Memorial Scholarship, a benefactor of the fund.
