Just four months after getting married, Timothy D. Hagerman learned he had cancer.
The former southern Maine high school and college basketball player was diagnosed in February 2011.
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His wife, Molly, said the cancer — doctors were not able to identify the disease’s origins — got progressively worse. At the end of his life, he was in a lot of pain, she said.
Mr. Hagerman died Monday, the day after Christmas, at Maine Medical Center. He was 26 years old. The couple lived in South Portland.
“I thought that I would get to grow old with him,” his wife said.
His wife said her husband was extremely popular and well known in the Scarborough community.
“The whole town of Scarborough came in to see Tim at the hospital during his final days,” she said.
The Hagermans, who were married Oct. 9, 2010, at Holy Cross Church in South Portland, had to make some adjustments to accommodate the size of their wedding party.
But as she learned over time, her husband’s large circle of friends was not something she could ever hope to change.
“He had 15 groomsmen and they were all his best friends,” his wife recalled.
They also had to set limits on the number of wedding invitations that were sent out.
“I said, Tim, we can’t have 700 people at our wedding,” she said. They settled on inviting more than 300 guests.
Born in Malden, Mass., Mr. Hagerman was a son of Reis F. and Catherine P. (Hevey) Hagerman.
Mr. Hagerman attended Scarborough schools, graduating in 2004 from Scarborough High School.
Though he played several sports, he excelled in basketball. His 6-foot, 6-inch frame probably contributed to his success as one of Scarborough’s top centers.
“He was a leader who got everyone excited,” his wife said. “He was a good player.”
After high school, he played basketball for Southern Maine Community College’s varsity team. The college has decided to retire his jersey — number 44.
It was through his basketball connections that he met his future wife, whose twin brothers played for SMCC.
They introduced him to Molly, who was a student at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.
“Tim was very charming. When he met my family for the first time, he just stormed into their hearts,” his wife said.
After earning his Associate of Science degree in business from SMCC, Mr. Hagerman established his own business — TDH Landscaping and Snowy Days Plowing.
In September 2011, as he fought courageously against the cancer, he decided he wanted a distraction so he acquired DJ Triggs, a friend’s disc jockey business.
Mr. Hagerman provided entertainment at high school and middle school dances as well as anniversary parties.
In October, the couple celebrated their first anniversary by going out for dinner at the Eastland Park Hotel in Portland — one of the few days where he felt fairly well.
“I think that when I try to make sense of this … I believe I was put in Tim’s life to help him get through this,” his wife said.
Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at dhoey@pressherald.com
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