On January 27, a ceremony was held to honor the late Matthew "Dezy" DiStefano at Sachem North High School in Farmingville, New York. Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico, Councilman Neil Manzella, and Councilman Neil Foley joined students, faculty, family, and friends to commemorate DiStefano's life by renaming the intersection at Smith Road and Manor Road as Matthew "Dezy" DiStefano Way. This location is near Sachem North High School where DiStefano served as a teacher and coach for 19 years.
DiStefano passed away in 2020 from Stage 4 Kidney Cancer at the age of 42. He was inducted into several Halls of Fame during his lifetime: Sachem High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017, College of Mount Saint Vincent Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018, and Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. After his diagnosis in early 2019, he founded the "Dezy Strong Foundation" to support other cancer patients.
The ceremony featured speeches from DiStefano's family and local officials including Supervisor Panico, Councilman Manzella, and Councilman Foley. Students from Sachem North High School performed Maroon 5's song "Memories" as part of the tribute.