My nephew Cory was an amazing boy. He and I were very close, more like my son than my nephew. He had an infectious sense of humor, told amazing stories that were mostly true, was a terrible tease and knew how to show his love. Cory was a freshman at New Hampshire Institute of Art studying to be a teacher, like his auntie. He also loved tattoos and thought a career as a tattoo artist might be a great way to spend his summers once he was teaching. He loved his school. He was never a stellar student, but at college he was challenged and energized by the instructors and their programs. He told us it was the first time he felt like a real student. He was beginning to e x p e r i - ence the rewards of studying a subject he loved with people who were interested in the same things. He quickly bonded with his instructors and classmates and these new people became characters in his stories. He called home daily to share his experiences with his family.

Cory was exceptional in many ways but what most people who knew him remark upon is his ability to create meaningful connections with people in relatively short periods of time. One friend said, "To know Cory for five minutes is to fall in love with him just a little." He was fiercely loyal to his family and friends and unapologetically connected to home. He was happy to be at his college, but equally anxious to come home during breaks so he could spend time with each member of his family. He divided his time at home between socializing and being outdoors. Cory had a profound respect for the land. He loved to hunt and fish and his stories were always full of the details of his escapades. He had a deep appreciation for what nature had to offer.