Gorham remembers attack victim with signs, sympathy, support

By BARBARA WALSH, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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GORHAM — Stephen Ward's father drove in the dark and cried as he read signs that hung outside pizza shops and real estate offices, homes and town businesses.

"Gorham will never forget you Stephen Ward," one said. "Our thoughts and prayers to the family of Stephen Ward," said another.

Gordon Ward read those words and cried for his son, who was killed last week when terrorists slammed planes into the World Trade Center. Gordon also cried because the young man's hometown has shown that it will not forget him.

"It's nice to know other people care," he said.

Stephen was on the trade center's 101st floor after starting work in late August for an international bonds and equity trading company. His family has not heard from him since the Sept. 11 attacks and believes that Stephen died in the thick jet-fuel smoke that filled his floor. He was 33.

Last weekend, the people of Gorham began to hang signs remembering the young man who graduated from their schools, co-captained one of their basketball championship teams, and returned year after year to play alumni basketball and talk to his former coach, Kevin Jenkins.

"Losing Steve has put a face and a name to this tragedy," Jenkins said. "Gorham is like a lot of American communities that are trying to pull together to do what they can."

Jenkins remembers Stephen as the kind of player you'd want on your team.

"Steve was like a coach on the floor," Jenkins said. "He was a very intelligent player and very competitive. He brought out the best in others."

Stephen Ward also was the kind of kid you hope your children grow up to be, Jenkins said.

"He was personable and funny, easygoing," Jenkins said. "I've been coaching for 20 years and he was always one of the most special players to me."

Malcolm Herrick knows the Ward family, too. Herrick lives in Gorham and has watched most of the school's basketball games the past couple of decades. Herrick's four children and five grandchildren graduated from the town's schools.

On Sunday, he hung a sign outside his home. It reads: "In memory of Stephen Ward."

"I just feel like, hey, I knew the kid and I did this out of respect to his family," Herrick said. "The way it went down just eats me alive. He was a good kid.

"And," Herrick added, "I guess hanging the sign helps me, too."

The Ward children, Susan Moore, 34, Stephen, 33, Ken, 29, and Katie Graham, 27, grew up near Jan and Paul Willis' real estate agency on Route 25.

When the Willises heard that Stephen had been killed, they, too, wanted to do something to ease the Ward family's grief. They put a message on their office board that reads: "Gorham will not forget you Stephen Ward."

"You feel so helpless," Jan Willis said. "We wanted to let people in Gorham know this tragedy hit our community. It could have been any one of us up in that plane or in the World Trade Center."

Citizens in both Gorham and Scarborough, where Stephen's mother Victoria Randall lives, have also brought the Ward family carloads of food. Hundreds have called and offered kind words and sympathy. Stephen's former basketball buddies have also dropped by his family's home.

"The outpouring of food and support has been phenomenal," said Claire Randall, a relative.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, there will be a memorial for Ward at the First Congregational Church in Gorham. The family considered keeping it private but decided to invite the community that has reached out to console and comfort them.

"The family believes that maybe in some way this will help the community, too, to have some closure," Randall said.

Next year, after the trade center rubble has been cleared, Gorham High School will remember the young man whose picture still hangs in their trophy case.

A basketball player who shows motivation, team spirit and skill will receive the Stephen Ward award. The award will be given out every year in his memory.

"That's our small way of keeping his memory alive here," Jenkins said. "The signs we're hanging around town are temporary. But hopefully 10 years from now, when someone gets that award, people in Gorham will stop and think about Steve Ward and his family."

Staff Writer Barbara Walsh can be contacted at 791-6382 or at: bwalsh@pressherald.com

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