Trio Claims Alan Kuver Fencing Scholarships

Allison Malone, Peter Gaal and Timothy Kusterbeck spent countless hours honing their skills with the Blue Devil fencing team. Huntington High School boasts one of the most competitive programs in Suffolk. The trio was presented with Alan Kuver Memorial Fencing Scholarships at this year’s senior scholarships and awards ceremony.

Mr. Kuver was a veteran Huntington UFSD teacher and fencing coach who passed away July 1, 2014 after a courageous 10 month battle with esophageal cancer. A resident of the Huntington School District and a Blue Devil alum himself, Mr. Kuver was often be seen around town, darting in and out of stores.

A consummate professional, Mr. Kuver helped guide many of his athletes into the college ranks, with several reaching the NCAA Division I fencing championships. He maintained relationships with a long list of Blue Devil alums, whom he continued to mentor and encourage, years after they had graduated.

Mr. Kuver’s family presented Ms. Malone and Mr. Gaal with $250 awards. The Associated Teachers of Huntington recognized Mr. Kusterbeck with a $1,000 scholarship. All three teenagers played key roles on the Blue Devil varsity fencing team.

Ms. Malone intends to study health behavior science at the University of Delaware. Mr. Gaal plans to pursue a degree in biomedical sciences on a pre-med track at the University at Buffalo in preparation for medical school and a career as a neurosurgeon. Mr. Kusterbeck will be studying at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Alan Drew Kuver

A true Renaissance man, Alan Drew Kuver was a member of Huntington High School’s Class of 1984. An articulate, soft-spoken man with a wonderful sense of humor, he was also a great conversationalist. He could hold court on almost any topic. His colleagues found him fascinating.

At the 46th annual Blue Devil senior athletic awards dinner in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium in June 2014, just weeks before he would succumb to his illness, Mr. Kuver spoke eloquently about the Huntington fencing program, its triumphs and some of its finest moments and about each of the senior athletes he worked with during what was his final season.

Mr. Kuver was a Blue Devil fan, frequently attending home and away games of sport teams as his schedule would allow. A dedicated coach, he devoted countless hours to working with his athletes year-round and maintaining their delicate equipment. He always had time to offer wise counsel and valuable advice to someone seeking it.

In addition to his long association with the Huntington fencing program, Mr. Kuver also served a stint as the Blue Devil varsity girls’ track and field coach. He taught industrial arts and technology at Huntington High School and J. Taylor Finley Middle School and had an easy way of working with his students.

A resident of the Huntington School District, Mr. Kuver was often be seen around town, darting in and out of stores. A consummate professional, he helped guide many of his athletes into the college ranks, with several reaching the NCAA Division I fencing championships. He maintained relationships with a long list of Blue Devil alums, who he continued to mentor and encourage, years after they had graduated.