Hey Tigerdude, You could glue some balsa sheeting in the gap on the wing then sand to fit.
I`ve lost some good people , to many, but I find as time goes on, when I think of them the grief has been replaced by good memories and fond thoughts. It just takes time.
The best way to honor his death is to enjoy your life and remeber him for the good friend he was.
And No, don`t you dare fly that SSE till you got that trainer down, or it will look like this. lol