Sukdev Singh

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Sukdev Singh carts ice at the New Canaan Mobile after Tropical Storm Irene knocked out power to most of the town in August 2011 (Julie Butler photo)

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[caption id="attachment_10916" align="alignright" width="209"] Sukdev Singh was known as "Little Singh" around the New Canaan Mobil station[/caption]

Sukdev Singh, known as "Little Singh" around the New Canaan Mobil - where he was employed by the Kean family for more than 20 years - died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack on Wednesday, Aug 8, while on vacation in his native India He had traveled home for his son's planned engagement

He died surrounded by his wife, son, daughter and family His children are in their 20s Mr Singh was 55 years old

He was a permanent, well known fixture at Mobil, according to Maria Kean Faucher

"In 2007, Singh went back to India to bring his wife and children here," she said "He wanted his children to be able to go to school here and be successful I remember this being one of the happiest moments of his life when he actually had them here in the United States He was thrilled and was telling all the customers"

Singh never took a vacation except the time he went to India to bring his family here and this month when he died

"He was a dedicated employee and very devoted to his job," Kean Faucher said "He was a part of our family and he will never be replaced Singh was kind hearted and helped everyone here and in his home country of India

"There are many fond memories of Singh that will never be forgotten, especially when my brother, dad or myself would go out to service our full-serve customers and they would ask for Singh and we would say 'he's busy now in the cooler or doing something,'" she said The customer's response would be 'I'll wait for him so he can take care of my car and fill it up' That shows you what a good person he was"

"Singh was due back at the end of August and when that time comes around we are going to be looking at the door every minute in hopes he walks through the door," said the Kean family "We know he won't, but we just can't believe this has happened We will place a framed picture of him on our wall and remember him each day"

"Singh never knew the word 'no,'" Art Kean Jr told the Advertiser "It could be to work overnight last minute or to fill the cooler he always said 'yes' He was a friend, employee, but most of all, family"

The Keans have set up a jar inside Mobil, at 16 South Ave, to collect money for Singh's family They are due back at the end of August and the owners are collecting money so that Singh's family can stay in their house and pay their bills until they get back on their feet

Mobil is accepting any form of donation - cash, check, gift cards or "whatever people can donate," said the Keans

"If we can show his family in donations what Singh meant to our town, it will be fantastic," Kean Faucher said "Please come by and support "Little Singh"