About Katie

Katie (April 19, 1984 — September 29, 2010) was a graduating member of the Manhasset High School Class of 2002. Katie is remembered for her passionate athleticism, not only on the MHS soccer fields but also as a leading figure on the MHS basketball and softball teams. She brought her team spirit to other local leagues as well, including CYO basketball, the Long Island Junior Soccer League, and the Christopher Morley swim team. She was also known to put up a mean fight in more casually organized games of kickball and billiards.

While we remember Katie for her athletic accomplishments, we moreover remember her for her for persistence in placing others before herself. Many fellow MHS classmates witnessed this quality of being a true team player as her teammates, but this quality also carried over into every other aspect of her life and served as an inspiration as she continued selflessly "thinking about the team" right up until her final breaths of life.

Katie's Fight

Katie's fight against cancer endured for many years. She was diagnosed with cancer at the young age of 16, and though the malignant tumor was removed, several years later she learned that the cancer had returned and metastasized to her lungs. A university student at Marist College by then, Katie began another long battle to fight the disease from ages 22 to 26.

During this time she endured intense medical treatments and an even more intense emotional battle to stay positive. Katie did not win the physical battle, but it is her strong showdown on the emotional front that we remember her by. Katie stayed  energetic and vibrant: she took on new and courageous challenges, and sought to live the full 100 percent of each remaining day for those last few years. Not only did she win this emotional battle, she shared her willpower with others and lent selfless emotional support to friends and family who were also weakened by her struggle.

Katie's Legacy

Katie was known for her fight and for her selflessness, and the Katie Bluhm Memorial Scholarship Charitable Trust commemorates her legacy by awarding a scholarship to a MHS graduating senior who exhibits these qualities as part of the women's soccer team. Please visit our Scholarship page to learn more about this award.