Religious leaders and friends remembered Alonzo Virgil, a fellow church member, Sunday, after he passed away suddenly Friday night.

Close friends were shocked and saddened by Virgil?s sudden death. They spent time in between masses at Bethel AME Church in Norwalk remembering him as an influence in their community with a passion for young people.

Virgil was the founder of the after school ACHIEVE Program, which began at Bethel AME before moving to its current location on Main Street. The program now enrolls more than 300 students.

?Alonzo reached out to everyone,? Willie Brevard, a close family friend, says. ?It did not matter who you were, but he reached out to everyone. Always a giving person.?

Virgil died at Saint Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport. The cause of death has yet to be determined.