CHESHIRE, Mass. — To all who knew him, Gary Superneau was simply "Soup."

 

His impact on the North County community was simply super.

 

Superneau, 54, died on Wednesday after a long illness.

 

The former owner and manager of Mount Greylock Bowl in North Adams was remembered by lifelong friend Rick Moon as someone with a passion for bowling and a love of people, especially young people.

 

"I think his biggest thing would be the kids," Moon said. "Kids were everything, the junior bowlers.

 

"No matter what was going on, he would step up by having a tournament for this person or a tournament to raise funds for this cause, donating bowling balls, getting kids involved in the sport.

 

"That was his love. He loved the game, and he loved everybody."

 

Moon said he is already thinking about ways to honor Superneau's legacy — from recognition through the local youth bowling league to a remembrance at the Southview Cemetery's "Angel of Hope" memorial.

 

"He deserves to be there," Moon said. "That’s my feeling. I’m going to get that done.”

 

Moon, a former professional bowler who coaches the high school team at McCann Tech, met Superneau, appropriately, in a bowling alley.

 

"I think he was 7 or 8 and I was 5 or 6," Moon said. "We’ve basically been friends our whole lives.”

 

Over the four decades that followed, Moon got to know a man who was a tireless advocate for the sport.

 

"His heart was in it his whole life," Moon said. "He never wavered. He would promote it no matter where he was. You could go downtown and see him, and he'd say, 'Hey, how did you bowl the other night?'

 

"He brought the professional bowlers regional tour here. He said, 'Let's get the best bowlers in the world to our area and let people see how good these guys are.' "

 

Current pro Jon Van Hees of Rhode Island remembered Superneau in a Facebook post on Thursday.

 

"As a young aspiring pro, I grew up during those years influenced heavily by people like Gary," wrote van Hees, who earned his first win on the PBA tour in December. "From some of the craziest parties to intense tournament environments, I always felt welcome and home when I was in his center. I feel everyone did. He truly loved us, and we couldn't help but love him back.

 

"His heart and spirit lifted those who had the privilege of being around him. I am so sorry I never got to shake your hand or get a hug one more time Soup, but I promise I'll never forget you."

 

There are many more throughout the region who remember Superneau and who will have a chance to honor his memory at Friday's wake from 4 to 7 at Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home and Saturday morning's funeral at St. Mary of the Assumption Church. Read the full obituary here.

 

"He’s a great individual," Moon said. "I can't say enough about him, really. My words are small for the amount of impact he made on everybody’s life.

 

"I don't think 4 to 7 is going to be enough time. I really don't."