WATERVILLE -- Family, friends and colleagues gathered on the Colby College campus and remembered Thomas Kopp as a man who loved his family and his work enough that a gift of life was donated in his name to the Maine Warden Service Dive Team.

Standing in the sunshine the group of two dozen people assembled as a gift of an underwater camera, lights and accessories was given to members of the dive team, some who responded to search for Kopp after the boat he was in overturned on Great Pond in Belgrade Nov. 10.

Also in the boat was Kopp's son Michael and three young grandsons. Kopp's body was found the next day.

The $3,500 camera equipment was purchased from money donated by family and co- workers from Colby, according to Deborah Turcotte, spokesman for the Warden service.

Turcotte said the equipment is essential to search and recovery efforts. "This shows the strong character of the family to give such a needed gift," Turcotte said. The camera has been named T.K. Cam" after Kopp.

Parker Beverage, dean of admissions at Colby, said Kopp would not approve of the memorial attention but would realize the value and importance to the dive team.

Beverage thanked the family including his wife Mimi and son Blaine and said the equipment will help others. He added that he hopes the camera is used both infrequently and wisely.

Members of the warden dive team watched as Sgt. Terry Hughes and Col. Joel Wilkinson shook hands with Beverage and opened the cases to show the onlookers in front of a large trailer used by the dive team.

Blaine Kopp stepped forward and explained the uses of the camera. According to Nancy Morrione, an associate dean of admissions who was a friend and worked closely with Thomas Kopp, said that Blaine Kopp used similar equipment to locate his father underwater a day after he drowned.

Morrione said the donation in his memory will make a difference to others. "He was a most beloved man and an amazing grandfather," Morrione said.