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 “Kory loved to play games,” said his mother, Denise Fenstermacher, as she wiped away tears. “And he’s smiling down on us now.” 

       Seven months after 11 year old Kory Fenstermacher died in a vehicle accident,  friends in his church youth group presented an X-box 360 (computer game) in his name to Wayne Memorial Hospital’s Pediatric Unit. More than 25 people, mostly Kory’s family and friends, showed up for the brief emotional ceremony, led by the Reverend Edward Erb of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hamlin. Honoring Kory, Reverend Erb explained, was the brainstorm of Chris O’Connor, who did not want his close friend Kory to be forgotten.

      “Chris was inspired by the movie Bridge to Terabithia, where a boy builds a bridge to pay tribute to a friend who drowned,” said Reverend Erb, “and once everybody in the youth group agreed to do something, they worked very hard to raise the money.”

      “Kory was a lot of fun to be around,” said Chris, “He was quiet when you first met him, but then he would talk a lot and laugh.”   Chris admitted he missed his friend very much.

      Kory’s mother, his father Ricky, sister Lisa and brother Codey watched quietly as Chris placed a dedication nameplate on the X-box that states “In memory of my special friend Kory Fenstermacher.”

      To pay for the X-box and five games for the machine, the youth group organized a bake sale, a spaghetti supper and a car wash over the spring and summer.