SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WPRI) — Roland Beauvais, or Beau to his friends, is being remembered as a hardworking father of four.

“He’d work day, night … it wasn’t even for his benefit,” said Cody Meinville, who described himself as Beau’s best friend.

“It was to make sure his kids were taken care of at the end of the day. He was just an all around family man and he just wanted the best for his kids,” Meinville explained.

Beau is also going to be remembered for his laugh. “He had a laugh that, it would drive you nuts after a while. It was kind of obnoxious,” Meinville recalled. “But it was just a laugh that would just fill a room.”

The 37-year-old Woonsocket man died in a motorcycle crash on Farnum Pike in Smithfield on Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Meinville said he’s been friends with Beau for more than 14 years and is still coming to terms with the loss.

“Beau was always a phone call away. Whether you were broken down, you needed advice on something, he was there,” Meinville said. “We talked every night, throughout the night, multiple times. For my phone not to go off last night with his name, that really kind of brought it home.”

There’s now a makeshift memorial with a white cross at the scene of the crash. The words “we love you Daddy” are written on the cross.

“Your heart goes out to the kids immediately,” Meinville said. “We have to make sure that they understand their father’s legacy and live on through their dad, and we make sure they get everything they need.”

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