Scandone dies at 42

Nick Scandone, a former UC Irvine All-American sailor and Balboa Yacht Club member who had been stricken with Lou Gehrig’s disease for the past six years, died Friday at his Fountain Valley home. He was 42.

Scandone won a gold medal in the SKUD-18 class at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.

He was named U.S. Sailing’s Rolex yachtsman of the year in 2005 and has been nominated for the 2008 award with the results to be announced later this month.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Balboa Yacht Club, 1801 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Assn., www.alsa.org.

— From staff reports