Last summer, science teacher Stephen Roberts passed away from complications during a surgery, leaving behind his wife and four children. He had battled esophageal cancer in his youth, and was consequentially not able to obtain life insurance.

Now, Roberts’ family is facing financial issues and is struggling to keep their house in Branford. Several of their close family members and friends have created the Roberts Gang Fundraiser to help the Roberts’ keep their home.

On Saturday, April 9, over two hundred people attended the fundraiser, which was at the Branford Elks Lodge in Branford, Conn.

As the live band, Rock Bottom from Clinton, Conn., played music, children danced and got their faces painted while the adults sat at tables talking.

One of the event’s coordinators is Jen Johnson, who has known the Robertses for over

twelve years. She has been planning the event for six months.

“We consider each other and our kids as family,” Johnson said.

Johnson says that the money raised would help the Roberts family refinance their home. She says that a move out of their tightly-knit neighborhood would be “devastating” to the family who has already been through a lot.

Roberts’ whole family was at the event. His widow, Deborah, says she was shocked by the number of people in attendance.

“It’s amazing and overwhelming,” she said.

Guests hailed from all over the east coast, from South Carolina to Maine.

“It’s really cool,” said Roberts’ son, Jacob, who is 12.

Another one of Roberts’ sons, Alex, was also surprised by the amount of people there. Alex, who is a senior, says he’s “leaning towards a physics major” at college next year. He helped his father teach summer school last year, but doesn’t envision himself as a

teacher. Roberts is someone who has

also been greatly missed by the Westport community. The science department at Staples has talked about creating an award in honor of him.

“Mr. Roberts was such a wonderful teacher. He made physics exciting every single day,” said Jamie Yamoff ’12, who had Roberts for summer school last year.

“They’re all here because they love Steve,” said Deborah Roberts.