AUBURN – For 20 minutes Wednesday morning, the clouds parted at Central Maine Community College, directly above the spot where nearly 100 of David Rancourt’s friends, relatives and fellow police officers gathered to dedicate the school’s newest dormitory in his honor.

“I figured it would be just like David to have a hole in the sky right above the tent,” said Androscoggin County Sheriff Guy Desjardins, adding a few moments later, “David would not want us to feel sorrow today, only light and joy. He’s probably looking down on us today wondering why we’re making such a big deal about this.”

Rancourt, a CMCC graduate, Iraq war veteran and Androscoggin County sheriff’s deputy, died on Nov. 4, 2006, when he suffered a heart attack while diving for criminal evidence in the Androscoggin River.

His death came one week after he retired from the Army.

Rancourt, of Leeds, had been a county deputy for 10 years. In addition to serving as captain of the dive team, he was a defensive tactics instructor. He was also a former police officer in Mechanic Falls.

His military service included membership in the 619th Transportation Company of the Army Reserve. He served in Desert Storm and two tours in Iraq, receiving a Bronze Star during his last tour.

When he died, Rancourt left a pregnant wife, Dawn, and a young son, Jeromey. The Rancourts’ younger son, Brock, recently turned 1.

In January, the Maine Community College System board of trustees voted to name CMCC’s latest dorm Rancourt Hall. On Wednesday, CMCC officially dedicated the hall, uncovering the building’s new silver lettering with a flourish and marking the event with the single wail of a police siren.

“I didn’t see it at first. My mom’s like, ‘Look,'” said 9-year-old Jeromey Rancourt, who sat in the front row during the ceremony, his baseball hat in his hands and a borrowed police badge hanging from a chain around his neck. “It’s pretty cool.”

The $5.4 million, four-story dorm features double-occupancy rooms, semi-private bathrooms and a fourth-floor “Treetops” conference room with a panoramic view of the campus and Lake Auburn. It serves 150 students and opened last fall.

On Wednesday, the ceremony began with a presentation by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office color guard. Pastor Paul McLaughlin of the Hope Haven Gospel Mission in Lewiston offered the benediction.

“I would like to give thanks for David Rancourt as a person, as a patriot and also as a protector,” he said.

Glenn Cummings, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and an instructor at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, also spoke. Rancourt received a certificate in graphic arts from CMCC, but obtained his law enforcement degree from SMCC.

“We’re sad for your loss, but today is a day of hope as well,” Cummings said to Rancourt’s family and fellow police officers. “He reflects for us another one of our proud alumni.”

Nearly two dozen police officers – many in dress blues – attended the ceremony, flanking the tent where Rancourt’s family and friends sat. Gazing out at the officers, CMCC President Scott Knapp offered Rancourt Hall as an honor to everyone in uniform.

“In part, this building is dedicated to you, too,” he said.

After the unveiling, Dawn Rancourt called the building “awesome” and “a great honor.” What would her husband have thought of it?

“‘Too much,'” she said. “He was very humble.”