Cannot Reset IPad mini due to lack of information......

I have an IPad Mini that a friend of mine gave me. I never updated it with my information because I still lived with him and he and I both used it. He passed away a few months ago and I would like to be able to still use the IPad but when I tried to do the reset I didn't realize that I would have to put in his information. I don't know his password to the original e-mail address used to set the IPad up so I am kind of lost. I don't want to get rid of it because it was his and now he is gone. Do I have any other options or do I just have a really expensive paper weight now?