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"The children do not deserve to have to endure this loss; as a community we can all help comfort and guide them through these difficult times," a GoFundMe campaign reads.
"As a family we mourn, we pray, we contemplate, and we cry," the campaign continues. "Now, we must do something, together."
The campaign is referring to Louis Hicks, who died suddenly on Sunday, May 7. Hicks leaves behind his wife Flavia, daughter Heidi (age 7), sons Anton (age 5) and Aaron (age 3) and unborn baby who is due the same month.
Born in Belmont, Hicks "always was on a deep quest for knowledge and understanding," according to his obituary.
"He debated with his teachers, was an ever-questioning student, and even performed sermons as an adolescent to the congregation at the Armenian Memorial Church," it reads.
Hicks attended both Belmont Hill School and Belmont High School, competed in Mixed Martial Arts, and was a State Sectional Champion wrestler who also won a Golden Gloves Boxing Championship. While Hicks "always pushed himself to be the best at everything he did," he was "always so proud of his family," his obituary continues.
"Louis devoted himself to providing for his children and wife," his obituary reads. "He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, and friend."
Louis and Flavia met while attending Boston University, according to his obituary. After graduating the couple married, moved to Rhode Island and bought a house and land where they started to raise their kids. The family would eventually move back to Louis' hometown, where the 39-year-old became a "fixture" among the local community.
"Louis worked as a physical trainer, and did everything he could to provide for his family. Louis always looked at the big picture and strove for greatness," Hugo Leahey, who is Hicks' childhood friend, wrote on the GoFundMe campaign.
"He wanted more than anything to build a world for his family where they had no wants," Leahey continued. "Now that Louis’s time here has passed, we are trying to pick up the pieces."
In addition to his wife and kids, Louis also leaves behind his parents Michael and Irene, as well as his sisters Charlene, Mahala and Angela, according to his obituary. People interested in donating to the GoFundMe can click here.
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