MARCY, N.Y. (WKTV) - A benefit was held Sunday in memory of Bob Mercurio, the Whitesboro Youth Hockey coach who was killed in a New Hampshire car accident in September.

Hundreds gathered at 12 North Sports Bar and Pavilion for food and raffles and to remember the well-known youth coach and activist.

Mercurio was involved in youth hockey, softball and football all in the Whitesboro community. Sunday, many of the children he coached and inspired came together at the benefit. Many of the children also sat on the committee to put the event together.

The youth event chairperson, Andrew Egresits, said, "Mr. Mercurio was family to us. We grew up with him, we played hockey with him, we played baseball with him and we just felt that we needed to do something to honor the family."

People said that Mercurio's inspiration spanned beyond the Whitesboro community. Egresits said, "It's help from the whole community, from New Hartford, from Utica, from Whitesboro, from Marcy, from pretty much the whole Mohawk Valley. Everybody has come to help us out here and help the Mercurio Family out." Ironically, Mercurio graduated from Whitesboro's chief rival, New Hartford.

Mercurio was also president of the Whitestown Youth Hockey Association for many years, he ran a Whitestown hockey clinic and helped organize an all-girls hockey league.

The money will go directly to the Mercuio Family to help pay for expenses they are facing until the insurance coverage goes into effect. Organizers say that $5,000 was raised.

Patricia Mercurio, Bob's wife of 18 years wanted to thank the community for their support. She said, "I am completely overwhelmed and touched. I can't even tell you how wonderful this all feels and I can't even tell you. I'm just shocked."

Mercurio's wife knew what his presence and support meant to the kids in the community. She said, "Bob touched every child, so many children in this community whether he coached them or he saw them at the football field, he knew all their names, he knew about them. They were in one way or another touched by him. They will all miss him as much as we will. "

She said that her husband loved every minute of his involvement in the community.