LEWISTON, Maine — For the bowling community in the Lewiston-Auburn area, the sport is more than a favorite pastime.
"People don't realize that when you become a part of like a bowling league ... these people become your family," bowler Angie Kensell said.
Two people who helped foster that sense of family were the married pair of Robert and Lucille Violette.
Bob and Lucy frequented Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley in Lewiston, where Bob was a youth bowling coach for several years.
"I feel like once you step through the doors here, and you're here even a little while, people get to know you, you get to know them ... and it's like a huge family," daughter-in-law Cassandra Violette said.
After the tragedy in October that claimed their lives and 16 others, loved ones came together to create the Bob and Lucy Violette Bowling Foundation, which raises money to help youth get into the sport.
The foundation held its first fundraising event Saturday in the form of a bowling tournament.
"It's carrying on their legacy of the love of youth bowling and the love of this community," Amy Bushway said.
Nearly 30 groups signed up for the first ever tournament, and they were joined by a handful of others throughout the day, raising a little over $2,000.
Bowlers said the event was one Bob and Lucy would have loved to see.
"[Bob] would be up there. He wouldn't even be bowling. He would be coaching right now," Bushway said. "And Lucy would be talking to everybody. Everybody knows who they are. They were the heart and soul of our youth league, really."
The Bob and Lucy Violette Bowling Foundation will be hosting another event starting Sept. 7 at Just-In-Time Recreation, "Try Me Week," to give youth a chance to try out the sport.