Kevin Dunn finally had everything he wanted: a wife he loved, a child, and a full-time job he enjoyed.

Most importantly, he was sober.

"He had just turned his life around," said his mother, Teresa Dunn, of Quincy, Mass. "He hadn't had a drink since May 12, 1995 ... when he'd have a problem, he'd call up, and say he just wanted to hear my voice, and then things would be all better. He was very happy."

Dunn, 37, of Attleboro, Mass., had bounced from job to job and place to place after graduating from Quincy High School.

He struggled with alcohol for much of that time, and spent many months in homeless shelters across the state, his mother said.

Then, eight years ago, he found Alcoholics Anonymous and confronted his problem.

He moved to Attleboro eight years ago, and for the last three years, he had been a sheet metal worker with Environmental Systems Inc.

He loved roller coasters, the music of Aerosmith, and all sports.