Recently, friends of the late, great Darryl Dawkins gathered in support of his family at the Dawkins Family Benefit held at the Independent Park Community Center, Breiningsville.

Dawkins, who passed away Aug. 27, 2015, was a beloved husband to his wife Janice, and father to his four children.

He was also a great friend to all those he met.

The event was organized by those close to Dawkins, with the intent of offering support to his wife and children.

Attended by friends, family members and acquaintances, the occasion not only benefited Dawkins’ family, but also provided an opportunity for those who knew him to celebrate and remember a great man who left behind a larger-than-life legacy.

Infamous for his backboard-shattering dunks, which earned him the nickname “Chocolate Thunder,” Dawkins was most known for his professional basketball seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Jets.

Dawkins’ NBA career extended from 1975 through 1989. Following the NBA, he played professionally in Italy, spent a year with The Harlem Globetrotters, and coached for/played with other professional teams before becoming head coach of the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs based in Whitehall.

Dawkins, deciding to settle in the Lehigh Valley to raise his family when the Dawgs folded, became head coach of the men’s team at Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville.

From his home in South Whitehall Township, Dawkins became a familiar face around town.

“He was a great friend to the community,” Sean Gill said, a friend of Dawkins who knew him through several youth athletic organizations including South Parkland, North Parkland, PYC Basketball and SPA Lacrosse.

According to Gill, Dawkins reached out across organizations to help encourage youth to achieve their goals, while also serving as an inspiration to the adults he met along the way.

He was also involved in many charitable organizations including Autism Speaks and Special Olympics.

“He was as genuine a guy as you could ever meet,” Gill said. “He would never shy away from saying hello, a picture or an autograph.”

Despite his notoriety and his involvement in the community, Dawkins and his family led a private life.

“I believe he really found a peace and calmness in his life,” Gill said. “He was able to demonstrate the person he really was.”

The “beef and beer” event also featured a silent auction with donations from various local businesses including Peeps and Heer’s.

A compilation of videos from throughout Dawkins’ career played during the evening, a reminder of a great man and talented athlete who made the Valley his home.

His wife, Janice, and three children joined their friends, sharing supportive stories and smiles.

“It’s been very difficult, but my husband always had a quick sense of humor,” said Janice, “He didn’t like anyone to ever be sad and would always find a way to make you laugh.”

Janice, who wore a necklace given to her by the Nets organization in memory of her husband, said the family was looking forward to attending Darryl Dawkins Night, when the Philadelphia 76ers hosted the Brooklyn Jets.

Dave Puckett, one of the organizers of the event, remembered his friend.

“He and his wife, Janice, were always the first in line whenever they saw someone in need,” Puckett said. “We knew him not as the great NBA star, but as a friend to all of us and to the community.”