Story of a life: Tim Padulsky

Tim's family was a source of strength for him. "His family is remarkable," said Paul Chebator, senior associate dean for student development. "The dedication his family had to him is just amazing, his siblings as well as his parents."

Tim had two brothers - Michael, a sophomore at Woburn Memorial High School, Stephen, a freshman at BC, and a sister, Kristen, who graduated CSON '08, and is in a two-year graduate nursing program at BC.

Speaking about Tim's final weeks, Kristen said, "We were so blessed to have that time with him to share with him and each other. He and God did that for us to give us that peace at the end of Tim's life. He was able to respond to people even on his last days. What a blessing." At the funeral, Kristen spoke about a dream one of Tim's doctors had on Friday evening. In the dream, Tim told the doctor that he was waiting until his mother gave him permission to go. Saturday was Mary Padulsky's birthday. The following day, Tim passed away.

Unjustly forced into a debilitating illness, Tim was always smiling, laughing, and working to pursue his goals, even when the leukemia worsened.

"I think the biggest honor everyone could give him would be to keep smiling," Flavin said. He touched lives at BC, in Woburn, and everywhere else his life took him. A natural leader and activist, Tim always sought to help and look after those around him. "I look forward to him being in my circle of guardian angels," Zovko said. His memory will live on. Keep smiling down on us, Tim. We're smiling back.