Rick Madore: ‘A Great Ambassador’

State College School Board President Rick Madore died early Monday morning of an apparent heart attack while swimming at the State College YMCA around 5:30 a.m. He was 51 years old.

“This was truly a shock,” said Dorothea Stahl, who worked with Madore on the school board for two years. “We’ve lost a great ambassador.”

Madore served as president of the board since 2007, but was a State College resident his whole life. He attended Corl Street and Fairmont Avenue elementary schools, Westerly Parkway Junior High, and State College High.

“The only reason he gave so much time to the board was because of his genuine love for the community,” Stahl said.

When running for a position on the board, Madore said, “The possibility I see is of uniting State College once again behind a marvelous district. We have so many fantastic people, opportunities and resources available that we should be able to look confidently at a wonderful future for the education of our children.”

Madore believed that great planning was the key to a great school district.

“Some people new to the area didn’t know how disheartening it was to bring concerns to the board before Madore was elected,” Stahl said. “He allowed everyone a chance to speak for as long as they wanted; there were no limits with him even though he could have enacted them.”

Madore was also a State College dentist for more than 20 years. He leaves behind a wife and three children. His oldest two children are State High graduates; his youngest child is still in the district.

In addition to serving on various building committees for his church and the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority, Madore was an announcer for State College High home swim meets.

“He felt genuine pride talking about his community,” Stahl said. “He brought a new feeling to the board. He set the bar high and he gave everything he had. He never said ‘no’ to anything.”

The entire school district mourns the loss of Madore and issued the following statement on its Web site:

“It is with great shock and sorrow that State College Area School District learned of the passing of Board President Dr. Rick Madore. It is devastating news and a tremendous loss to the State College community. Dr. Madore was elected to the State College Area School Board in 2007 and has served as president since taking office.

He was a lifelong resident of State College and a 1976 State High graduate. He was a loving husband and the father of three children, the oldest two are both State High graduates, and his son is currently a sophomore at State College Area high school.

The State College Area School District, on behalf of the Board of School Directors, students, faculty, staff and administration send their deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Rick Madore. He was truly committed to education and to all the students of the district, and he will be greatly missed.”

“He really just genuinely cared,” said Stahl. “Our community has lost a great leader.”