Crash victim’s partner comforted by memories, support

GILFORD — Brittany Thompson, the partner of Steven Marchand, the Gilford motorcycle rider who died in an accident Wednesday, is finding consolation in the memories of their 10 years together.

“He was a good boyfriend, and a good father,” Thompson said Friday. “He was a good and loving guy.”

The couple have two children, and Thompson is four months pregnant with a third child.

Marchand died Wednesday evening when his motorcycle collided with an automobile on a sharp curve on Route 11B in Laconia.

Marchand, 34, was working as a car salesperson at the time of his death, his older brother, Andrew Marchand, said Friday.

Steven Marchand graduated from Laconia High School in 2006. He met Thompson in 2012 during a visit to Maine when he went into a Dunkin' where she was working.

Thompson currently works at T-Bone’s-Cactus Jack’s in Laconia.

Friends and neighbors, meanwhile, are doing their part to help Thompson and the two children.

Cassandra Hamilton, a friend, has set up a page on the website Meal Train, which helps coordinate meals for people in the days immediately after the death of a loved one, or for other significant life events.

As of Friday afternoon, 24 people had contributed a total of $2,160 worth of prepared meals to the “Brittany Thompson and kids” fund — enough for the next two weeks.

Thompson said there are plans to hold a service for Marchand, but no date has been set as yet, as funeral arrangements are incomplete.