STETSON, Maine — Whether he was behind the wheel of his beloved race car, at the head of the selectmen’s table or behind the lectern for the local chamber of commerce, life was not a contest for Gary Bellefleur Jr.
Bellefleur, 49, who died Monday in an accident while working on his race car, was passionate about many things, but at the top of the list was his desire to see others succeed, according to those who knew him best.
“Whether he had a good day or a bad day, his personality was always the same,” said Tom Mayberry, president of the Pro All-Stars (Racing) Series, of which Bellefleur was an avid member. “He was nice to everybody.”
Bellefleur chaired Stetson’s Board of Selectmen, presided as president of the Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce and served as vice president of finance for a firm called Newport Industrial Fabrication Inc.
While his greatest gift might have been finances, his passion was racing. After a wreck a couple of years ago that destroyed his No. 40 car, Bellefleur was assembling a new car, No. 99, that he hoped to race Saturday during the Pro All-Star Series North season opener at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough.
Bellefleur had his race car up on ramps Monday night when it rolled on top of him in the garage of his 509 Lakins Road home, according to Penobscot County Deputy Roy Peary. Bellefleur’s wife, Melodie, discovered his body Tuesday morning.
Bellefleur was well known for his financial prowess. After the town of Stetson found itself in financial turmoil a few years ago, Bellefleur was elected to the Board of Selectmen. Stetson Selectman Don Carroll, who has served on the board for 20 years, said Bellefleur led the town’s return to fiduciary well-being.
“He was a prime mover behind the financial end of it,” said Carroll. “He was a financial wiz and he did a heck of a job. I enjoyed working with him.”
The story was similar at the Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce. Like many organizations, the Chamber was suffering the effects of a sour economy. Bellefleur was the organization’s president, a post he held until February when his term ended.
“Everyone is shocked and saddened to hear about the accident,” said Brenda Seekins, the Chamber’s director. “Gary was very personable and a good representative of the business community.”
As vice president of finance for Newport Industrial Fabrication Inc. for the past 10 years, Bellefleur pulled the firm through a range of financial struggles, including maintaining health insurance for the firm’s 30-40 employees, said owner Daniel Gerry. In addition to his official capacity, Bellefleur served as a volunteer financial counselor for many employees.
“He would always be available to help people figure out their financial struggles,” said Gerry. “I think he was the tax preparer for half our crew and half the town of Stetson. He kind of broke the mold in some ways because he was a serious accountant and tax preparer, yet he could make light of anything and keep people laughing.”
Mike Lange, a racing enthusiast from St. Albans, had known Bellefleur for 30 years.
“He really was a master with the kids,” said Lange, who remembers Bellefleur participating in everything from a hula-hoop contest to interviewing young racers on tricycles at Unity Raceway.
Chelsea Young of Winterport, now 17, met Bellefleur four years ago when she began racing at Unity and Wiscasset Raceway. He was her biggest fan and supporter, she said.
“He always called me the pretty girl in the pretty pink car,” said Young. “He was probably, other than my family, the most supportive of me out of anyone.”
In one of her first races, Young wiped out and her car ended up on its side. After a pit stop and two new tires, she re-entered the race and ended up finishing second.
“He kept saying, ‘You’ve got a lot of dirt on your car, you know,’” said Young. “Then he announced [through the raceway’s loudspeakers] that if anyone needs gravel, go see Chelsea Young.”
Young, like hundreds of others across Maine, learned about Bellefleur’s death early Tuesday afternoon.
“He’s probably one of the best people I’ve ever known,” she said. “I really don’t think this has sunk in yet.”
