AUBURN – G. Michael Welch, the beloved St. Dominic Regional High School principal who inspired students with his sincerity, faith and devotion, died of cancer Tuesday night, just an hour after seniors held a candlelight vigil outside his hospice window. Welch was 61.

“He made you feel special,” said senior Chelsea Fournier. “He made you feel loved.”

A veteran Catholic school teacher and administrator, Welch came to St. Dom’s in 1993. As principal, he was determined to get the old school into a new, state-of-the-art building, and he succeeded. But it was Welch’s devotion to students that impressed people most.

He routinely attended games to celebrate his students’ wins and console them in their losses. He often dropped in on classes and stopped kids in the hallway to gently ask how they were doing in school, at home, with life’s toughest decisions. He got to know every one of the school’s 300 to 400 students each year, and they got to know him.

“He was a wonderful, inspiring man for the kids. He had a calmness about him; a sensibility that the kids respected, and a strong belief in faith,” first lady Karen Baldacci said in a statement. Her son attended St. Dom’s last year.

Welch, who never married, often said St. Dom’s was his family. During graduation ceremonies, he recognized each senior separately, remarking on their special talents and unique personalities.

“He was proud of his school. He considered all of us his children,” Fournier said.

Then, five-and-a-half years ago, Welch was diagnosed with cancer. A large man with an even larger presence, he chose to keep news of his illness and treatment low-key. Instead, he focused all attention on the school and his kids. Over the last several years, he oversaw the construction of a new, multimillion dollar building in Auburn and the school’s move from Lewiston to Auburn. He helped the school through the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and through other staff members’ life-threatening illnesses.

“He was just an amazing person. He lit up everyone’s spirit,” said senior Erika VanDerWerf.

Then, this summer, “His battle accelerated,” said Sister Rosemary Donohue, Catholic schools superintendent and a longtime friend. The omnipresent principal suddenly wasn’t around school as much. He attended his last official school function – a parents’ meeting – on Sept 7. On Monday, he entered a hospice and began talking about how to run the school without him.

On Tuesday, students were told that their principal was gravely ill.

“He loved all of us more than any of us knew,” said senior Lauren Clark. “We really wanted to say good-bye. We wanted to show how much we loved him.”

Tuesday night, most of the senior class gathered at Welch’s hospice window. Holding candles, they sang and prayed.

Although Welch was sick and medicated, “We feel he heard them,” Donohue said. He died about an hour later.

Students learned about his death in an assembly Wednesday morning. The school flag was lowered to half-staff. Counselors stood by to help students through their grief.

“The student body as a whole is devastated by the loss,” said Kathie Clark, Lauren Clark’s mother. “He was such a huge part of St. Dom’s.”

A wake will be held for Welch at the school from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday. A funeral Mass will be held at the basilica at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Welch requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the school for scholarships. A fund is being established in his honor.

On Wednesday afternoon, as the girls’ undefeated field hockey team traveled to their latest game, some seniors talked about another way to honor the man who consoled them through their losses.

Keep winning.

“Hopefully, he’s watching us,” VanDerWerf said.