AUBURN – Through all of her grief and through the onslaught of memories, Dawn Rancourt was pausing to remember that others are grieving as well.

On Monday night, the widow of Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Deputy David Rancourt was surrounded not only by her immediate family but also by fellow officers. They were there to help her with funeral arrangements. They were there whenever she hit an emotional rough spot.

“They have been taking very good care of me. They’ve all been unbelievable,” she said. “I know I’m not the only one who lost someone. They lost someone, too.”

David Rancourt died Saturday morning while diving in the Androscoggin River in a search for evidence. The cause of his death is being investigated.

On Monday, virtually the entire sheriff’s department roster, as well as officers from other departments, were helping to plan the days of vigil followed by a funeral on Thursday honoring David Rancourt.

In the moments between planning and answering calls of condolence, Dawn Rancourt found time to grasp exactly what was lost. She realized that her own pain is rivaled by that of her 7-year-old son, who continues to struggle with accepting that his father is gone.

“They were best buddies. They did everything together,” Dawn said. “Dave’s pride and joy was his little boy.”

David Rancourt met the woman who would become his wife while they both were enlisted in the Army reserves. Recalling that, Dawn said it wasn’t a case of love at first sight.

Not exactly.

“He was my squad leader,” she said. “So I don’t think it was love at first sight. But there was definitely something between us.”

The police who were helping to care for Dawn know her not only as a policeman’s husband, but as a police officer herself – she was a corporal with the Lewiston Police Department before moving over to the Twin Cities’ 911 Communications Center.

“We’re her extended family, all of us,” said sheriff’s Detective William Gagne. “We’re going to take good care of her, whatever she needs.”

Caring for people is what police do. But none of the officers needed to be reminded that the man who was lost was more than just a cop. All it took was a look at the family David Rancourt left behind to bring that point home.

“Most of them are fine until they talk to Dawn,” Gagne said. “Then their eyes get teary.”

Many of the police officers have chosen to speak of their fallen comrade in private circles rather than publicly. On Monday night, Dawn Rancourt summed up their feelings simply by reflecting on the life of the man she married.

“He was a great husband. He was a great father and a great friend,” she said. “He was just a very, very good man.”