At Saturday’s fundraiser for former Whitman police officer Gerald Mont, who died from a heart attack January 29 at age 48, the centerpiece for each table was a pot of flowers.

Friends and family gathered at the Pembroke Knights of Columbus to raise money for Gerry Mont's family. 

After the event, the flowers were gathered up and planted on a roundabout in front of Mont’s home in Pembroke, creating an everlasting memorial for a man beloved by his family, neighbors and colleagues.

Several hundred people filled the hall at the Pembroke Knights of Columbus to raise money for Mont’s wife Carol and his three children.  Tables were filled with hundreds of silent auction items and raffle prizes, donated by local businesses and residents.

Along with many of his coworkers from the Whitman Police Department, many of Mont’s neighbors from the Wintergreen Farm area of Pembroke were in attendance.

Neighbor Rob Raleigh was one of the driving forces behind the fundraiser.

“Everybody said we had to do something,” he said.  “We wanted to help the kids, not only financially, but to let them know a lot of people care about them.”

Raleigh said that once the idea of a fundraiser was broached, financial donations, raffle and silent auction items and other offers of help poured in.  In addition to being a Whitman police officer, Mont was a Whitman-Hanson DARE officer, coached Pembroke Youth Basketball and was involved with St. Joseph the Worker’s Catholic Church in Hanson.

“We got an unbelievable response,” Raleigh said.

Whitman Police Chief Christine May-Stafford was at the event Saturday, helping take tickets at the door.  She said the department was “completely devastated” by the news of Mont’s death.

“Gerry was well liked by everybody in the department,” she said.  “He was the life of the department … he always had a smile.”

May-Stafford said once she and the other members of the Whitman Police Department heard of the fundraising efforts, they were eager to help.

“We wanted to jump on board and do whatever we could,” she said.  “He worked hard for his family … they’re just a good family.”

The family was appreciative of the large turnout as well.

Neighbor Debby Smith, who said she used to wait at the bus stop with Carol Mont and her children, said the family was moved by the outpouring of support.

“She’s very appreciative,” said Smith.  “Something like that’s hard to put into words.”