The body found in the Penobscot River earlier this week was that of a missing Greenbush man.
The body of Jeremy James Hill, 47, was found Sunday, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s County Office said Wednesday. Hill had been missing since mid April.
Hill had a big heart and would go out of his way to help other people, his niece, Erika Worthing said. Her father died when she was in middle school and Hill stepped up to support her.
He had three children, two in high school and one in middle school, and their mother died in 2015. The children now live with their grandparents, Worthing said.
The next birthdays and family gatherings without Hill will be hard, she said, noting that he’s been a part of so many celebrations throughout her life.
“Without him there, there’s going to be a significant piece missing and a hole in our hearts because of it,” she said.
Worthing said she is thankful that the community shared the missing person posters and searched for him. She is also thankful for the people who found Hill’s body because that means the family isn’t dealing with the “what ifs” anymore.
Worthing wants to raise money for Hill’s children’s post-high school educations, she said in a GoFundMe.