Friends, Family Honor the Life of Adrianna Duffy

Adrianna Duffy

Family and friends will remember the life of Adrianna Duffy at a fundraiser tonight at Prince Pizzeria/Giggles Comedy Club in Saugus. The proceeds from “Adri’s Comedy Show Fundraiser” will go toward a scholarship fund in her name.

Adrianna Duffy attended Chelsea public schools and was a graduate of Concord Academy, Class of 2009, who went on to further her education at Trinity College. Early in her freshman year of college on September 28, 2009, Adrianna passed away after suffering a massive pulmonary embolism. She was one month away from her eighteenth birthday.

Adrianna was a terrific young lady, an excellent student, an athlete, a student leader, and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Her future had no limits.

“Adrianna was the captain of the lacrosse team,” said Adrianna’s mother, Leslie Niedner, recalling one of the many honors her daughter achieved in her life.

Niedner said she started a non-profit organization to help perpetuate her daughter’s memory and raise money so that other students could receive scholarships. Josh Kraft, former executive director of the Jordan Boys and Girls Club, Sue Clark, executive director of Choice Thru Education, Carolyn Boumila-Vega of the Chelsea REACH program, and Juan Vega, executive director of Centro Latino are assisting the organization.

Metro Lacrosse, where Adrianna developed her skills in lacrosse, is also a supporter of the charitable organization.

“My daughter was very vivacious, persistent with her education, and never gave up despite her tough circumstances and the loss of her grandparents,” said Niedner. “She had so much energy and worked for many social causes. She was in to helping others and was a peer leader at HarborCov for teen dating violence.”

Adrianna was a resident student at Concord Academy, a prestigious prep school that Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, daughter of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, attended.

“I would drive there in traffic every Friday night to pick her up,” Niedner recalled with a smile. “She excelled after making the transition to prep school and being away from home. I was very proud of my daughter.”

Niedner was a teen parent, a Chelsea High Class of 1993 graduate, and attended Choice Thru Education under the leadership of Sue Clark. Niedner later worked at Choice Thru Education and praised the training and the positive direction that she gained from her first-hand experience in the program.

Adrianna’s younger sister, Ciarra, is carrying on her wonderful legacy as a student leader and humanitarian. Ciarra is a freshman at Noble and Greenough.

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