Family of University of Vermont student who died starts 'Never Walk Alone Fund'

The parents of a University of Vermont student who died from hypothermia are organizing a fund to help ensure what happened to their son doesn't happen to any other student.

First-year student Connor Gage, 19 of Little Falls, New York, was found in the snow in a North Winooski Avenue parking lot on Feb. 2. An autopsy showed intoxication exacerbated his hypothermia. Gage had been walking alone after leaving a fraternity party.

His family has begun the "Connor Gage Never Walk Alone Fund." On Monday, they told the Burlington Free Press that they had received a number of donations after about 2,000 people had attended services for Gage over the weekend. They had asked for donations to the fund in lieu of flowers.

Gage's mother, Dorothy Connor, said those donations have not yet been totaled.

The family also started a fundraiser on GoFundMe.com, which had collected $1,005 of a $50,000 goal as of 2:30 p.m. Monday.

The fund is still in its infancy, but Connor said she and other members of Gage's family are hoping to help the University of Vermont educate and raise awareness around the effects of alcohol and cold weather, and promote student safety practices, such as using the "buddy system" and taking care of one another.

"A lot of crimes happen to people, or even just accidents happen to people, when they're alone," Connor said. "There's power in numbers."

Related coverage:

• Connor Gage's family remembers young man who helped others: 'One event doesn't define you'
• UVM suspends all fraternity activities in response to Connor Gage's death
• University of Vermont students reacts to the death of freshman Connor Gage
• Burlington police: UVM student was intoxicated, died from sub-zero temperature exposure

Gage's step-father Norm Freund said the family isn't looking to necessarily reinvent policies and practices that might already be in place at the University of Vermont. 

He said one of his priorities is "making sure that everyone knows and is not afraid to use policies in place that could be life-saving."

The dream is to eventually spread this education to other high schools and universities in the country, Connor said. Forming a scholarship at the University of Vermont is also a possibility they're exploring, she said.

"If one person can help another, or one life can be saved by us speaking or having the ability to bring in resources, that would be what the money is for," Connor said. 

To access the GoFundMe, visit www.gofundme.com/connor-gage-never-walk-alone-memorial-fund.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizMurrayBFP.