Dustin Osier, 18, of Waldoboro, died early Aug. 19 at the scene of a single vehicle accident in Wayne.
Osier was traveling at a high rate of speed in his 2002 Saturn when, at about 4:15 a.m., he crossed the center line and hit a tree.
Osier’s obituary (in this edition) describes him as an accomplished outdoorsman, a three-sport athlete and basketball coach and a generous and protective older brother to whom family “always” came first.
A 2010 graduate of Medomak Valley High School, Osier earned a reputation as a premier defender and distributor on the basketball court.
“He wasn’t worried about stats, wasn’t worried about scoring,” Osier’s cousin, mentor and high school basketball coach, Nick DePatsy, said. “He was a team player… his work ethic was second to none, in my opinion.”
Osier had a standing assignment from game to game – to shut down the opponent’s most dangerous guard, a challenge he relished. DePatsy also remembers his star defender as a “silky, conniving” passer with an uncanny ability to find the open man.
In soccer, Osier played fullback, another supporting role. His father, John Osier, said Dustin preferred the diamond, where he was a southpaw pitcher and centerfielder for the Medomak Valley High School Panthers.
John Osier described his son as an “extremely competitive” athlete who did his utmost to “inspire his team to play hard” in any sport. Even from deep centerfield, “You could always hear him cheering his team on,” John Osier said.
Dustin Osier “had a lot of school spirit,” DePatsy said. After graduation, “he came to all the games” to support his former teammates.
After his graduation at the age of 17, Dustin Osier followed in DePatsy’s footsteps by coaching a local peewee basketball team.
The teenager “loved” coaching, DePatsy said, and his players liked their exciting, young coach. DePatsy and his protégé had discussed a future role alongside DePatsy at the varsity level.
DePatsy said he’ll always remember Dustin Osier’s confident smile, his eagerness to tackle a different challenge every day, and his willingness to help others.
“He has a tremendous love for young kids,” John Osier said, a quality “obvious” in his relationships with his younger sisters, Hannah and Haley Osier.
Hannah Osier, 13, could always rely on her oldest brother to “drop everything” just to give her a ride to a friend’s house, John Osier said. His grandparents, likewise, only had to pick up the telephone to acquire a willing helper for various projects.
John Osier also remembers his fashion-conscious son’s love for shopping, a hobby inherited from his mother, Lisa Osier.
Dustin Osier always took special care in his appearance, frequenting a tanning salon in the winter months and waxing his chest despite ribbing from family and friends.
His collection of sneakers was most remarkable, as his closet boasted 40-plus pairs of Nike sneakers, many unworn or barely worn.
He ate a nutritious diet, filling the family refrigerator with Vitamin Water and protein mix and avoiding French fries and other foods he considered unhealthy.
The clothes, the shoes and the tan were all a part of Osier’s personality. Acquaintances remember him as exuding self-confidence, but his father and those closest to him knew a different, often shy and self-conscious side.
Following his high school graduation, Dustin Osier briefly attended Husson University before opting to go back to work. He “really enjoyed” his job at Spear’s Vegetable Farm in Nobleboro, John Osier said, and had been weighing his options for the future, including a potential return to college to study physical education.
John Osier expressed gratitude for a “huge outpouring” of support from family and friends during a difficult time for the family.
Family and friends set up The Dustin Osier Athletic Fund in memory of the man and his love for sports and children. John Osier hopes donations might eventually sponsor a team, purchase sports equipment and/or evolve into a scholarship fund.
“I’d love to think it could send someone to college,” he said. “That’s what he would have wanted.”
A celebration of Osier’s life will be held Wed., Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. at Medomak Valley High School.
