PORTLAND - On June 12, 2005, Benjamin Joseph De Villeneuve, after a lifetime of serving his Heavenly Father; in spirit, stood and ran to his God's side. Born to this earth on Nov. 19, 1975 with spina bifida, he lived every moment as if it were his last. Lover of music, he was involved in chorus, and entertained to nursing homes. Ben also did his share of volunteer work at the Barron Center, and Mercy Hospital. In the early 1980s, he was the March of Dimes poster child, and was a competitor in the Special Olympics. Ben was an avid sports fan, (rubbed elbows with Larry Bird and Danny Ainge.) A loyal Mainer, he stood behind the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots and Sea Dogs through thick and thin.Ben was a talented painter, and loved to be among people of talent and character. Ben traveled extensively, to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, and into much of the western and southern United States. Ben loved playing video games, surfing the internet, and was a bit of a movie nut. Ben shared his families love of Newfoundlands and was especially proud of Sally, and her new litter of pups-especially his Rosie.Ben loved children, especially his little nieces and nephews, Peter, Patrick, Megan and Autumn, whom will miss him. Ben also will be missed by his mother and father, Robert and Gail (Tompkins) De Villeneuve; a brother and his wife, Rob and Mindi De Villeneuve; a sister and her husband, Michele and Nick Robbins; his grandmother, Maymartin Tompkins; aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and the many others whom he touched worldwide. He will not be forgotten, and we look forward to one day seeing him again. -- LIMERICK - Benjamin De Villeneuve didn't consider himself disabled.When he was 11, Mr. De Villeneuve had the opportunity of a lifetime to meet some of the most talented names to ever play for the Boston Celtics. He rubbed elbows with Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge and his inspiration - Larry Bird.It was a dream come true, but it almost didn't happen.Mr. De Villeneuve, 29, who died Sunday, had spina bifida.In 1987, he had shunt failure and his heart stopped beating. His father, Robert De Villeneuve, and a friend revived him with CPR. After doctors replaced his shunt, Mr. De Villeneuve had a long recovery. The Celtics gave him the boost he needed.Mr. De Villeneuve received floor seats to a game. At the final buzzer, ushers escorted him and his parents to the locker room to meet the players."He was aglow. That's the only way to describe it," said his mother, Gail De Villeneuve. "He hung on that for many years." From birth, Mr. De Villeneuve was paralyzed from the mid-chest down and could never play sports. His parents used Bird as a model to inspire him."Throughout Ben's life, we taught him that it takes effort and hard work to make your dreams come true," his mother said.In 1995, Mr. De Villeneuve, formerly of Portland, graduated from Deering High School, where he belonged to the school chorus."Ben didn't see himself as different . . . In the cafeteria one day, he wheeled himself over to a group of cheerleaders to eat lunch. Not many men that I can think of would be that gutsy," said his mother. Mr. De Villeneuve was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Parsonsfield.In the Mormon faith, when a young man reaches the age of 19, he goes on a mission for two years. Mr. De Villeneuve fulfilled his mission in other ways. He was a regular volunteer at the Barron Center and Mercy Hospital in Portland, visiting patients. He also loved to sing and arranged to have his church choir sing at the Barron Center and at Southridge Rehabilitation and Living Center in Biddeford."He wanted to help people," his mother said. "(His faith) meant everything to him. He would talk to people about the church and what he believed. He wasn't shy about that. Benjamin told it the way he saw it."Mr. De Villeneuve traveled to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Canada and throughout the United States. One of his most memorable trips was to Neuschwanstein, the castle after which Walt Disney patterned his. The long, narrow staircase was the only way to the top. As luck would have it, the Austrian national ski team was there."The team carried him in his wheelchair up the staircase. Ben saw the whole castle," Gail De Villeneuve said.