BANGOR — More than 300 faculty members, fellow athletes and friends of Stephen Colvin, many in tears, gathered Friday afternoon at a memorial service for the Husson University student who died in a ski accident this week.

The G. Pierce Webber Campus Center overflowed with members of the Husson community, who said they sharply felt Colvin’s loss, despite the fact he’d just arrived on campus in the fall.

“I knew Steve had some friends but I didn’t know he had this many,” said Matt Pellerin, one of Colvin’s close friends and a member of the Husson football team. “He was the kind of guy that if he went into a room, everyone would be happy. He made you want to become a better person.”

Colvin, of Hoosick, N.Y., died Tuesday morning while on a ski trip at Sugarloaf Mountain with Pellerin, Pellerin’s cousin and teammate Ryan Stroud. The four were on their second run of the morning when Colvin lost control on Hayburner, a black diamond trail, and crashed into the trees.

“Being by his side to comfort him, protect him and express my love for him during the last moments of his life is a blessing that I will never fully feel deserving of,” said Stroud, a junior and quarterback on the Husson football team. “The pain we are experiencing may never go away, but neither will all of the incredible memories we all shared with him.”

Colvin’s enthusiasm, positive attitude and constant smile were recurring themes for all who spoke at the remembrance, including about a half-dozen members of the football team, Chaplain Sarah Pringle-Lewis and President Robert A. Clark. Those who spoke commented on Colvin’s commitment as a teammate and determined student — until it was time to have some fun.

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“For those of you who knew Steve, you can all relate when I say that Steve was a pretty crazy dude,” Stroud said.

Pellerin recalled a story that summed up Pellerin and Colvin’s close relationship as well as Colvin’s affinity for some rambunctious times.

“We went out to a party one night after homecoming and (Colvin) decided he wanted to get up on my shoulders,” Pellerin said. “So I was just walking around the party with him on my shoulders and these two (guys) were like, ‘Yo, do you guys want to have a chicken fight?’ Steve was like, ‘Yea, yea, let’s do it.’ So we’re over here and I say to Steve, ‘How do you want to go about this?’ And he jumps off my shoulders and tackles the guys.

“He was always crazy, doing crazy things.”

Before the start of the school year, Colvin showed interest in coming to Husson and joining the football team, according to head coach Gabby Price.

“We saw a video of him playing and it was just the type of kid we love,” Price said, his voice cracking as he struggled to hold off tears. “You could tell he was having fun.”

Stroud, and the rest of Colvin’s teammates that spoke, echoed that sentiment.

“I honestly cannot think of a better person to relate Husson football too, than Steve,” Stroud said. “I’ve never met a guy who lived life to the fullest more than him. Steve’s smile resonates in my mind each and every day, because that’s what Steve did most; he smiled.”

Jesse Scardina — 861-9239jscardina@centralmaine.comTwitter: @jessescardina


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