By Stowell P. Watters
Staff Writer
    On June 2, 2007 Patty Gagne of Arundel lost her youngest son in a fatal car accident. Standing in a low lit barn at the Ever After Mustang Rescue Education and Training Center in Biddeford the mother of Timothy Gagne Jr. explained why she, her family and some friends have established a memorial foundation in Timothy Gagne Jr.’s name.
    “It is helping us heal, what else can we do?” asked Patty Gagne.
    Timothy Gagne Jr. was an 18-year-old graduate of The New School in Kennebunk at the time of the accident – one of his closest friends, Daryn Petrin, also lost his life in the wreck. The Gagne family said Timothy Gagne Jr. was an avid outdoorsman, and whether it be four-wheeling, dirt-biking, skating, snowboarding, swimming, climbing or riding his pedal bike – he was enthralled with the world out of doors.
    “Timothy loved the outdoors and everything nature had to offer. From an early age, we would often find Timmy perched up on a high branch in the tallest tree he could find,” Patty Gagne said.
    “Yeah, at the top of the tree he could see more,” said his father Tim Gagne.
    During his time at The New School he visited the Florida Everglades twice, both times with current New School science and math teacher Bryan Kelliher. Kelliher is also Dean of Students at The New School.
    “Timmy learned best by seeing, by doing – he was one of those ball-of-energy type kids,” Kelliher said. “He would be happy to see this foundation established, so that other kids can explore as he did.”
    The Tim Gagne Jr. Memorial Foundation is a program set up by Timothy Gagne Jr.’s family, close friend Chanel Smith and former teacher Elke Perks to honor Timothy Gagne Jr. by setting aside funds for students in York County who wish to travel abroad. Timothy Gagne Jr. was aided by outside donations for his second Everglades trip, thus establishing, in his sister Krista Gagne’s mind, the importance of such a foundation.
    “He had so many plans, there was so much he was going to do,” Krista Gagne said. “It is important for us to see his spirit live on in a public manner, so other kids can have the opportunities he did.”
    The organization is currently in the process of applying for non-profit status with the state, but already they have begun making donations and organizing events in Timothy Gagne Jr.’s honor.     
    Last September 60 bikers from throughout New England participated in the organization’s first of many planned bike rides in Timothy Gagne Jr.’s name. In that hour-long ride bikers passed places where Timothy Gagne Jr. worked, the Mildred L. Day School where he attended school and the site of his accident, finishing at the family’s house in Arundel for a barbeque. The New School helped cook and set up as the volunteer force raised $3,000 for the memorial foundation.
    Patty Gagne said that evening was developed as a tribute to Timothy Gagne Jr.’s love of anything with a motor.
    “Anything he could move on – he loved,” said his mother. “I used to tell him he had gas in his blood.”
    The organization has donated $400 to the Alumni Scholarship at The New School and plans to establish the foundation as both an enabler and scholarship for students “who share the same ideals as Timmy, who love the outdoors and who learn by exposure,” Krista Gagne said.
    “Outdoor travel was a priority for him, and we want to help likeminded kids. Anything students want to do, where they can’t come up with the money – trip wise – we want to set this up to help them,” said Timothy Gagne Jr.’s brother, Jeromy.
    Students in York County will have a chance, once the foundation is in place, to apply directly to the Gagne family for consideration of the award.
    Timothy Gagne Jr. worked for three years as a volunteer at the Ever After Mustang Rescue Education and Training Center and on Feb. 17 the memorial foundation made a $500 donation to the rescue foundation. That program, which, according to their Web site www.mustangrescue.org, “rescues and rehabilitates previously adopted mustangs and either transitions them to new homes and useful lives, or offers life-time care to unadoptable horses,” is led by owner and founder Mona Jerome.
    “Timmy had special talents, everybody looked to him for guidance, everybody knew him and we all liked him very well,” Jerome said. For her organization Timothy Gagne Jr. put to use the skills he learned from his father – namely carpentry that helped refurbish and maintain the stalls of the adopted mustangs.
    The foundation is planning an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, open to anyone who is interested, March 2 at the Applebee’s in Biddeford and a second annual benefit ride tentatively scheduled for June 21. For more information about the foundation or donations the family urges readers to visit their Web site www.timgagnejr.org.
    “Tim’s life was cut short, but not his ability to help people,” said his sister Krista Gagne.
    To contact Stowell P. Watters, call 282-4337 ext. 219 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.