LEWISTON, Maine — Lewiston is now home to a fitting tribute to lifelong resident Ron Morin.
Morin was one of the 18 victims who died in the mass shooting events in Lewiston on Oct. 25. On Wednesday, the Lewiston City Council unanimously approved renaming the Randall Road Softball Complex to Ron Morin Memorial Fields.
"A lot of it came from his dedication to softball, both playing and being an umpire. He’s been a coach and mentor to kids in multiple sports over the years," Lewiston Recreation Department Director Nicole Welch said during the city council meeting. "He was a great Lewiston-Auburn community member, both on this side of the bridge and the other side of the bridge. City staff fully support this recommendation."
Morin was playing cornhole at Schemengees Bar & Grille with the bar's manager, Joey Walker, on the night of the shooting. Walker was also killed.
Morin was 55 years old. He had worked for Coca-Cola as a sales merchandiser since 1989, his friends and the company said.
"Ron was known for his tremendous sense of humor, infectious smile, and a distinctive belly laugh embodying the spirit of joy and camaraderie," Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said during the city council meeting.
“We just hope that this can be a positive, lasting tribute worthy of his name," Welch emphasized.
Morin's family and friends came together the month after the shooting to raise $1,000 for the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society. He was an avid dog lover.
"Today we are thankful for the friends and family of the late Ron Morin," the humane society said in a social media post at the time. "Thank you for thinking of our animal friends as you continue to celebrate a life well lived!"
Chase Cote and his friend Derek Haskell knew Ron Morin well. Morin was a family friend they would get dinners with, play street hockey with, and in Derek's case, work with. Ron and Derek were both softball umpires.
"It was just his infectious smile and comedy that he brought with things, which was great. He would always ask about my family," Haskell said. "The last time I worked with Ron, I had had my kid by then. Ron asked, 'How's [your] kid doing?' It would just be things other than what we're doing at the time because he was caring, he was compassionate, and he was. ... He was there for people when you needed them. Ron was a great person."