A legacy of 27-year-old Curtis Magarian will continue to live on and inspire his high school and community through a memorial bursary that's raised thousands of dollars.

Those close to Magarian described him as a talented musician and excellent helicopter maintenance engineer. He died on Dec. 20, 2024. 

Tessa Davis, who was Magarian's music teacher and band director at Revelstoke Secondary School (RSS) for several years before his 2015 graduation, remembers her former student as funny, well liked, caring and free-spirited.

"He was mischievous, as many drummers are," she recalled light-heartedly. "Always a smile on his face, that kid."

Davis worked closely with Magarian throughout those years, including during a five-day school band trip to San Francisco in his Grade 11 year.

"We had to public transit some instruments, and we did it alone on a city bus," she said. "He almost dropped one, but we had a laugh about it. He was a very light kid in that way."

The Revelstoke Community Foundation has been accepting donations for a bursary in honour of Magarian, who played guitar, piano and most notably drums in the music program. With a goal of $10,000, the bursary will distribute $500 each year to a graduating RSS student who's excelled in music and shop class. It's already raised nearly $5,000, and will join the more than 70 scholarship and bursary funds at RSS that recognize excellence in subjects including music.

"Curtis liked to help people, so that's kind of the spirit behind it," Davis said.

"It's meant to kind of bridge a gap between subject areas," she explained, referring to Magarian's dual excellence in music and shop class. "Because he was so strong in both, I think it's really positive to celebrate but also sends a message of 'do well in more than one thing, and neither one has to be academic.'"

As part of his school band's larger percussion section, Curtis was also an enthusiastic team player, Davis noted.

"I was really happy that he continued to play as an adult," she said. "He was very successful in his career as a helicopter mechanic. Music was his leisure, and so to know that he took that with him as his joy of playing is a huge success for me. Whatever he picked up from here, a little bit kind of carried through. That, for me, is just worth celebrating in itself - music for life."

After graduation, Magarian continued to pursue his love for music through jam sessions with friends, trying his hand at other instruments including bass and keyboard. He'd also pull out the guitar to perform older songs for his parents, including mother Jeanette Magarian who previously worked for the school district and served on RSS's band parent association.

"We are deeply grateful to everyone who has donated in honour of Curtis," the Revelstoke Community Foundation said on Facebook. "This memorial (bursary) will allow future RSS graduates to pursue their dreams."

Bursary donations can be made online at , by e-transfer at info@revelstokecommunityfoundation.com or in person at Revelstoke Credit Union.