NORTH ADAMS — A city resident is continuing to support the public library even after his death with a $25,000 donation.

At Thursday's Library Board of Trustees meeting, member Richard Taskin teared up when he announced that his friend, Paul Gaudreau, wrote the check to the Friends of the Public Library before he died and asked him to present it to them.

Gaudreau died March 8 at 64. A North Adams native, he worked at Specialty Minerals before retiring after two decades at Williams College and was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard. He was a devoted Little League and youth basketball coach, and also Taskin’s fantasy baseball partner.

“He was one of the hardest working people I ever knew,” said Taskin. “He had great respect for what the library does. ... He understands the importance of the library as the crown jewel of our city.”

North Adams Public Library Board of Trustees member Richard Taskin presented Friends of the Public Library President Bonnie Rennell with a $25,000 donation from his friend Paul Gaudreau, who died on March 8.

Taskin hoped Gaudreau’s donation would inspire others.

“Paul was a role model in life and a role model in death,” he said. “I think other people would like to do the same, and perhaps he's providing people with an example here. We’ve done great programming here and I hope we continue to do so.”

Bonnie Rennell, president of the Friends of the Public Library, asked if Taskin would consult with Gaudreau’s family to see if there were any ways they’d like the Friends to use the money.

“If you have some ideas how you'd like this used, we’d be happy to work with you,” she said.

The Friends fund things not covered in the library’s operating budget, like movie licenses for events, programming materials, furniture and more. Most of its funding comes from an annual book sale and membership drive.

“We love the library and that’s why we do it,” Rennell said.

Last August, for the Friends' 50th anniversary, the organization paid for author and journalist Joyce Maynard to come talk at Hotel Downstreet after a front lawn celebration. Rennell said the public enjoyed it so much that they are hoping to do it again.

“Maybe with Paul’s gift, we can,” she said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Richard Taskin's last name.