Dr. Alexander Aiello Paley, MD Memorial Scholarship Fund

Alexander "Alex" Aiello Paley was born and raised in Albany, NY, the middle child of Robert Paley and Natalie Aiello. Alex attended Albany High School where he was a member of the Cross-Country and Indoor/Outdoor track team and played the saxophone in the school’s Jazz Band. He graduated from AHS in 2004 and went on to attend the University of Miami where he majored in Aerospace Engineering and was a member of the University’s Cross-Country team.

After graduating college in 2008, Alex returned to Albany where he worked at Fleet Feet Albany and ran competitively, winning the 2013 USATF Grand Prix title in addition to other running accolades. During his post-college years in Albany, Alex started a summer running program for inner city youth, instilling in countless children the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Friends and family regularly spotted Alex out for runs in Albany, dressed only in his short running shorts.

Alex was determined to become a doctor and proudly entered medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical in 2014. During his time at SUNY Upstate, Alex balanced his schoolwork with outreach activities and community service. He volunteered regularly at a clinic that helped diabetic individuals experiencing homelessness, and formed a strong bond with his elementary school-aged reading buddy, whom he worked with throughout his years at SUNY Upstate. Alex was affectionately known by his classmates as Alex Kaley for his love of cooking and healthy eating. Alex helped to start a dinner rotation with his friends in medical school and oftentimes encouraged his friends to join him on runs.

After a brief medical leave of absence to recover from brain surgery and treatment for a brain tumor during his third year of medical school, Alex returned to medical school, and graduated in May 2019 with the intention of beginning a residency in Family Medicine at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, NY. Unfortunately, Alex's glioblastoma returned before he could achieve this goal, and he passed away on October 27, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. 

The Aiello/Paley Family and Fleet Feet Sports have created this scholarship fund to recognize Albany High School students who embody the energy and spirit with which Alex lived his life. Potential recipients will be Albany High seniors active in track-and-field sports, with a commitment to community service. All contributions to the Dr. Alexander Aiello Paley, MD Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Albany Fund for Education are fully tax-deductible. You may contribute online, or mail a check to Albany Fund for Education, PO Box 3110, Albany, NY 12203. Please indicate in the memo line that your check is for the Alex Paley Scholarship Fund.