Husson athlete St. Hilaire dies College community mourns loss

BANGOR – The Husson College community, particularly its football team, was in a state of shock Tuesday evening after learning freshman Lee St. Hilaire of Winthrop had died suddenly.

St. Hilaire, a member of the Husson football team, died Tuesday at age 20 as the result of a gunshot wound at a Bangor apartment, according to Det. Lt. Tim Reid of the Bangor Police Department.

Reid declined further comment, other than to say the death is not considered suspicious and that the State Medical Examiner’s Office is expected make some determination today.

Husson spokeswoman Julie Green provided the college’s reaction to St. Hilaire’s death.

“The college is deeply saddened by the loss of its student, and our prayers go out to his family,” Green said. “We’re very, very sad about his death. It’s a tragedy, and we just want to be available to help his family.”

Green said Husson College chaplain, the Rev. Bob Carlson, was on the Bangor campus Tuesday night to meet with students and others who were trying to cope with St. Hilaire’s death.

Braves athletic director and head football coach Jonathan “Gabby” Price, who could not be reached for comment, called a team meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday to convey the grim news, according to Green, who said the entire Husson “family” mourns the passing of St. Hilaire.

“It isn’t about him being an athlete; it’s about him being one of our students,” Green said. “Husson’s a small place, and this affects all of us.”

Green said Husson is planning a memorial service, the details of which have not been completed.

St. Hilaire was among the most celebrated Maine high school football players in recent history.

In 2001, the former Winthrop High all-state performer became the first non-Class A player to win the prestigious James J. Fitzpatrick Award, given annually to the top senior football player and sportsman in Maine.

As a senior, St. Hilaire completed 140 of 205 passes for 2,382 yards and 21 touchdowns with only three interceptions. He finished his career with 8,272 yards, the most in Maine schoolboy history.

St. Hilaire, who had signed a National Letter of Intent to play at the University of Maine, was with the team for about two months in 2002 before he left school Oct. 22, apparently after having trouble dealing with the rigors of college course work and Division I-AA football.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound quarterback resurfaced last fall at Husson, which was embarking on its first varsity season since the 1940s.

St. Hilaire was the Braves’ offensive leader, passing for 900 yards last season, although the team struggled to an 0-6 record as an NCAA Division III independent.

St. Hilaire also played ice hockey at Winthrop/Hall-Dale.

NEWS reporter Doug Kesseli contributed to this report