FAIRBORN, Ohio -- A Miami Valley community came together to remember a young man who died after a severe beating.

Chris Kernich, 23, a Fairborn resident, died Saturday afternoon at an Akron hospital after he was beaten near Kent State University.

Friends of the 2005 Fairborn High School graduate gathered at the school Saturday night.

They prayed, lit candles and said kind words about Kernich.

Classmate Kari Reicherd said, "He is one of the most loyal people that I know. If it came down to his friends, there was never a question. He was right there."

Classmate Cory Hardin said, "There was never a dull moment with him. If you were feeling down, he knew what to do make you smile or laugh."

Kernich was hospitalized last Sunday.

Kent police said two men, Adrian Barker and Ronald Kelley, assaulted Kernich and a group of his friends as they walked near Kent State.

Classmate A.J. Jiles said, "This was senseless, this was undeserved. He should be with all of us hanging out just like he always did."

Those friends returned the favor to Chris his difficult week in the hospital. His room was packed with friends from Fairborn and Kent daily.

The huge Ohio State fan even got a call from the top Buckeye. Coach Jim Tressel called Kernich Friday.

Friends say they'll get through the tough days ahead. They plan to do it by listening to what Chris always said.

Reicherd said, "He told us to live every moment you have like you're never going to get it back."

Friends are holding a fundraiser for the Kernich family at Cadillac Jack's in Fairborn Monday night from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.