One week before his 16th birthday and the day he was to be honored by the town, Wareham Middle School student Tariq Johnson lost his life-long battle with an immune-deficiency disorder early Tuesday morning.

His death at Tufts Medical Center in Boston came just one week before the day Selectmen had declared to be Tariq Johnson Day in honor of the teen and the courage and character he had demonstrated in facing health challenges.

The foster son of Donna Johnson, assistant pastor at the Onset Foursquare Church, Tariq suffered from Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome. When Donna began caring for a 7-year-old Tariq, she was told he was not expected to live another year.

But Donna Johnson said she heard a message from a higher power.

“I believe God told me he was going to heal Tariq,” she said last year.

And Tariq persevered through blood transfusions, a splenectomy, and a host of other medical issues.

Ken Fontes, Wareham Boys and Girls Club unit director said the first time he heard Johnson's story was when Fontes was applying for the director job and was at the annual MLK Breakfast. Fontes said when Johnson was asked what he wanted, he said, "All I want is support for bone marrow transplant so I can live longer."

Fontes said Johnson, who was a lifetime member of the Boys and Girls Club, never complained about aches or pains.

"I wish I have the strength and courage of that kid for what he went through," Fontes said.

"What I remember him most for was at the dances at the club he was always tell me, 'These kids can't dance,' and even with all his illnesses he would get up there dance in front of everybody," Fontes said.

Fontes said when Johnson was at the club he didn't want to be just another member, so he made him a junior staff person and gave him his own desk.

"He was a great kid," Fontes said. "A lot of kids at the club are still emotional."

Interim Police Chief Kevin Walsh said on National Night Out, a community-police awareness event in August 2012, Johnson was awarded the annual Steven J. Brown Courageous Youth Award.

"Tariq's courage and optimism, along with his bright smile, will always be fondly remembered by the Wareham Police Department," Walsh said.

Last spring, Tariq was the focus of a fund-raising “penny war” at Wareham Middle School. Organized to raise funds for a bone marrow drive – part of a search to find a genetically suitable match for the bone marrow and kidney transplant Tariq needed – the “war” raised more than $1,000 in a week and a half.

Despite those efforts and a nationwide search for a match, no suitable donor could be located in time to save Tariq’s life.

Friends, family and school officials say Tariq never lost his cheerful outlook on life.

He told Wareham Week last spring: “When I grow up I want to be a video game designer. I want to make a game people can play all day and all night and get addicted to.”

A dancer, artist, amateur playwright, and actor, Tariq was described as an overall friendly, outgoing kid.

“He is probably one of the happiest kids walking the hallway,” said Middle School Honor Society advisor Jessica Frazier last spring.

At Tuesday's Selectmen meeting, Selectman Alan Slavin said he and Selectman Peter Teitelbaum were invited to an early birthday celebration for Johnson over a week ago. Slavin and Teitelbaum presented Johnson with a proclamation for March 18 to be Tariq Johnson Day.

“He was talking to some family member later on and he said he always wanted to be famous,” said Slavin. “So he did a pretty good job.”

“We still are going to celebrate March 18 as Tariq Johnson Day in the Town of Wareham. We would like it to be perceived as a celebration of the young man's life,” Teitelbaum said. “Rather than March 18 be a sad occasion we would like it to be a happy one.”