Connor Gage always wanted to be part of something bigger than himself.

He was funny, intelligent, and wanted to help people, family members say. He was just beginning to find his place as a first-year student at the University of Vermont, where he was pursuing a degree in neuroscience, before his life was cut short at 19 years old. Gage was found dead in the snow in Burlington on Feb. 2, killed by hypothermia exacerbated by acute intoxication, an autopsy showed.

Gage's family hopes the Little Falls, New York, native will be remembered for the life he led and not for the way he died. They know his name will be forever tied to the University of Vermont and hope his greatest impact is yet to come, they told the Burlington Free Press on Tuesday.

"One event doesn't define you," said Gage's step-father, Norm Freund, also of Little Falls, New York. He added, "This doesn't happen to a kid like this. It doesn't, but it did."

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'He knew how to make people feel valued'

Gage was one of the younger members of his family, growing up with two siblings and three step-siblings. His mother, Dorothy Connor, described him as the "liaison" among all the siblings as he kept the most stable relationships with each of them.

His siblings, in a statement shared by Dorothy Connor, described Gage as funny, smart, intuitive, kind, and a natural-born leader.

"He coined many phrases, such as 'you’ll have that on those big jobs,'" the statement said. His family members say most people — including them — would not be able to fully explain what they referred to as a "Connorism."

They added, "He was kind, he had a big heart, he knew how to make people feel valued."

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His mother, wearing a necklace from her sons, gave several examples of her Connor's big heart.

Last year for her birthday, Gage gave his mom a children's book called, "Love You Forever." She said she used to read the story to him when he was younger.

"He wrote a poem in it about how as long as he's living he will be my baby," Connor said, her voice breaking. "He was just very thoughtful."

'He loved being part of a team'

Connor had an active upbringing, spending a lot of time with his family outdoors. They visited Vermont often, taking advantage of the ski slopes, hiking trails and good food.

As he got older, Gage enjoyed fishing and playing football. In high school, he was on the football, wrestling and track teams.

"He loved being part of a team and things that were bigger than himself," Freund said.

Connor also made the decision to attend Little Falls High School so he could take more advanced placement classes, which can carry college credits, said his father, Ronald Gage Jr., of Frankfurt, New York. Connor was an honors student and served as vice president of his school's branch of the Future Business Leaders of America, Dorothy Connor said.

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As a senior in high school, he was one of the high school students chosen to play in the Senior Bowl, an all-star football game in the district, Ronald Gage Jr. said.

Connor also overcame obstacles in high school. After a serious injury to his shoulder during wrestling his junior year, Connor needed reconstructive surgery. As part of his recovery, he learned how to write with his uninjured left hand, his mother said. She describes this time as one where she was most proud of her son.

"He did it with grace and dignity," Connor said. "He was so strong. I don't think I could have gone back to the school and faced everything the way he did."

Connor Gage wanted to give back

Connor's dream was to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, and he received the only congressional nomination in his New York district. However, his admission was denied, and he decided to attend his second-choice school, the University of Vermont.

At the Burlington-based university, Connor chose neuroscience as a major and began a path toward becoming a physician. His mother is a nurse and step-father is a physician.

"He really had the altruistic view of wanting to give back and do something good," Freund said.

More:Sub-zero temps may have contributed to UVM student's death. Here are tips on staying safe.

Connor also became involved in the Wellness Environment and its mentorship program, and he served as a bike mechanic for the UVM Bike Co-op. In his first semester, Connor achieved a 3.66 grade point average, his mother said.

"He was in training as a WE mentor with a goal to serve as a role model to Burlington grade school students," said Dr. Jim Hudziak, the director of the Wellness Environment, in a statement. He added, "The WE Community is grieving the loss of Connor and our thoughts are with his mom, dad and extended family."

More:University of Vermont students reacts to the death of freshman Connor Gage

When his parents visited the university this week, they discovered Connor had also taken several violin lessons while at the University of Vermont. His mother suspects this was done to surprise her or her other son, who plays an instrument. He also had begun looking into traveling to Chile or Peru to help with a university research project.

"I think he was just beginning here," Dorothy Connor said.

'The perfect storm'

Members of Connor's family declined to speak directly about the events that led to his death, asking to focus instead on their son's life. However, they said Connor's behavior the night he died was "out of character." Over winter break, Connor had become a certified trapper, so he knew how to layer and dress for cold weather, his mother said.

His family has gone through waves of grief, cycling through feelings of sadness, anger, denial, and confusion, Freund said.

"Nobody can wrap their head around it," Ronald Gage Jr. said. He added, "Everything that could have gone wrong did. The perfect storm."

Connor's family plans to work with the University of Vermont to ensure nothing like this happens to another student.

Freund said the community in which they live in New York is devastated over Connor's death. Some have begun to share on Facebook a poem written by Connor when he was 15 years old. The poem is titled, "Time."

The poem has taken on new meaning now after Connor's death, Dorothy Connor said.

"Sometimes it drags, sometimes it flies, but no matter what, all you get is 86,400 seconds per day," Connor's poem says. "It's your responsibility to do the most you can with what you're given and never regret it, because in the end, you can't go back, you can't buy more, and you can never change what's already happened."

Service details for Connor Gage:

Calling hours for Connor Gage will be held on Feb. 8 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Holy Family Parish in Little Falls, New York. A funeral service will be held the next day at 10 a.m. at the same parish.

A celebration of Connor Gage's life will be held on Feb. 9 at 12 p.m. at Beardslee Castle in Little Falls, New York.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizMurrayBFP.