Student and worker remembered by college
By: Brinn Smith
News Editor
On March 19, 2026, STLCC Meramec and South County student and student worker Gage Ward died in a traffic accident. Ward worked at the help desk in the Meramec Financial Services Building while pursuing a degree in general transfer studies and working toward a career in psychology or psychiatry.
“Gage was described as a kind, hardworking coworker and as a student who will be greatly missed by fellow classmates, faculty and staff,” a condolence notice sent to STLCC students said.
Ward was also a father of two children, who he was outspokenly proud of.
“He had two kids that he really loved and cared about; he was very proud,” Ward’s coworker Moth Rowe said. “He talked about them a lot, though we never got to meet them.”
His coworkers at the Meramec Financial Services Welcome Desk will miss Ward, noting that he was kind and compassionate.
“He was very smart and very kind. He seemed to touch [the lives of] everyone,” Rowe said. “Everyone always described him like that. It’s just that he was very quiet, but he had a way of being nice to other people.”
Ward, while attending the STLCC South County Campus, was often an example of student success and achievement.
“He was a truly remarkable guy,” said South County dean and director Rob Lee. “He was the sort of student we often highlighted as a success story for having overcome so much in his young life.”
His success was also noticed by coworkers, with his achievements being acknowledged by them.
“He was one of those people that you see talked about in newspapers and stuff because he’s smart and he’s willing to put in the hard work and effort to achieve a lot,” Rowe said. “That’s why it was so tragic, and when we found out, we were taken seriously off guard.”
Ward was a true help to both students on the Meramec and South County campuses, working in student-facing positions.
Gage served as a friendly face to many who needed help finding what they were looking for on campus,” the condolence notice said.
Ward’s coworkers want him to be remembered in a similar way, as someone who had a positive and lasting impact on the Meramec student body.
“Just knowing that he touched as many lives as he did,” Rowe said. “Everyone that I’ve talked to just really, really felt for him and he connected with a lot of people.”
A celebration of Ward’s life will be held on Sunday, April 19, from 4-8
p.m. at Collier’s Funeral Home, 3400 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Ann, MO 63074.
