Marcel Fontaine, 29, was supposed to be back home in Norwalk this weekend for his 10-year high school reunion. Instead, friends and family will hold his funeral there. Marcel Fontaine was among four people killed in a fire in an apartment building in Worcester, Massachusetts this month. He'd lived there for several years but was born and raised in Norwalk, graduating from Brien McMahon High School. His parents and sister Renee Fontaine still live in town.

"My brother was just one of those people that you met once, and you'd never forget him for the rest of your life just because how unique he was and also how kind he was," said Renee Fontaine. "My brother kind of described himself as being unapologetically himself. He was gay, he was autistic and very proud to be both."

Renee Fontaine told News 12 her brother was a big activist in the LGBTQ+ community and enjoyed speaking up for those who couldn't.

"He also worked at a rehab center. He was the activity coordinator there, and he was in love with his residents and his residents loved him, as well," Renee Fontaine said. "Before that in New Hampshire, he worked with autistic children. So he used his own experience being autistic to help these children in need."

Renee Fontaine said her brother also had a large following on TikTok. Videos there show him to be a free spirit, a metalhead and a goofball.

But at one point, Marcel Fontaine was also falsely identified as the Parkland shooter. On Feb. 14, 2018, the day of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Alex Jones posted a photo of Marcel Fontaine on his Infowars website claiming he was the one responsible.

"It really affected his reputation and obviously hurt him a lot," Renee Fontaine told News 12.

In 2019, a law firm in Texas filed a defamation suit against Jones on Marcel Fontaine's behalf in Travis County Texas District Court. Court documents state he had never been to Florida and suffered "harassment and peril even from individuals aware of his identity as a Massachusetts resident but who nevertheless remain convinced he was part of a horrifying conspiracy."

"Fortunately, my brother was a very positive person so even being blamed for this, he always maintained a positive attitude," Renee Fontaine recalled. "He was more so like, 'I don't want this to happen to other people. I don't want Alex Jones going around falsely accusing people of things."

Marcel Fontaine's lawsuit ended up being just the first. It spurred several Sandy Hook families to take their own legal action against Jones. Marcel Fontaine's attorneys also represent the parents of Jesse Lewis and the parents of Noah Pozner, who've sued for defamation and causing emotional distress. A judge found Jones liable for all cases. Jones is set to go on trial for damages in each case this summer. Marcel Fontaine's attorneys have called him courageous for standing up to Jones and inspiring others to do the same.

"It really is a blessing to see how many lives that my brother touched," Renee Fontaine said.

The Fontaine family will receive friends Saturday, May 28, at the Raymond Funeral Home on East Wall Street in Norwalk from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. with a service to follow.

A GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses is now raising money for a memorial bench in his honor in Norwalk.