Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Some of the dozens of signs and posters that were pinned to fences at the Shady Lane park Monday evening pay tribute to Shea Patno, the 15-year-old Nashua resident who drowned in Dunstable last week.

NASHUA – Chuckles mixed with tears Monday evening at a southwest Nashua park as some of the many people close to the late Shea Patno recalled his helpful, caring nature – and his “goofy sense of humor.”

Nearly 1,000 people came together at the park, on Shady Lane adjacent to the New Searles Elementary School, to remember the 15-year-old youth who drowned Friday while swimming with friends in Bass Pond, which is part of the Dunstable Rural Land Trust and just a short distance from the Nashua-Dunstable town line.

Friends took turns speaking about Patno, and how he impacted their lives.

Patno, a rising Nashua High School South sophomore, was reported missing around 4:15 p.m. Friday by swimming companions, after he disappeared beneath the surface and did not resurface.

Nashua Fire Rescue’s Dive Team was called in to help search for Patno, joining Dunstable police and firefighters at the scene. Searchers walked the pond’s shores while others boarded boats to look for Patno.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS A rainbow breaks out over the Shady Lane park as some of the nearly 1,000 people who attended a candlelight vigil Monday in honor of 15-year-old Shea Patno embrace and share condolences. Patno drowned last week while swimming with friends in Dunstable.

He was located around 6 p.m., officials said, in about 13 feet of water. Medical personnel administered treatment and hurried him to an awaiting ambulance, which transported him to a Nashua hospital.

He was pronounced dead a short time later, officials said.

On Monday, clouds and rain rolled in across the park as attendees assembled for the vigil.

Undeterred, everyone stayed put, and watched the rain stop and skies begin to clear just as the vigil got underway.

As if on cue, a rainbow appeared, arching high over the gathering as they exchanged hugs and shared emotional moments.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS A portion of the nearly 1,000 men, women and children who turned out for a vigil in honor of Nashua youth Shea Patno listen as others share memories of the youth, who drowned Friday while swimming in Dunstable.

Holding lighted candles, attendees mingled against a backdrop of numerous signs, posters, photographs and other mementos that had been fastened to sections of fencing surrounding the ballfield within the park.

They participated in a five-minute period of silence, designed to reflect on their friend and loved one, and pray for each other.

The rainbow would burst forth as the vigil concluded, prompting many attendees to view the timing as “representative of how Shea helped out” when it was needed.

Meanwhile, messages of condolence and tribute – as well as a GoFundMe account – have been popping up regularly on social media.

Anna Waldron, who describes herself as “part of” the Patno family, set up the GoFundMe account on their behalf.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Two of the dozens of signs and posters that were pinned to fences at the Shady Lane park Monday evening pay tribute to Shea Patno, the 15-year-old Nashua resident who drowned in Dunstable last week.

The funds collected “will all be spent on giving Shea the burial he deserves, and on helping this family in their time of need,” Waldron wrote, adding that she started the account “because I have been lucky to become a part of this family.”

Donors responded quickly and often; as of Tuesday afternoon, donations had passed the $40,000 mark – more than four times its origional goal of $10,000.

To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/f/shea-patno.

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Jeffrey Hastings contributed material for this report.