DUBLIN, Calif. -- Family, friends, students and faculty gathered Thursday night to remember a Bay Area father who was shot and killed last week in front of his 13-year old daughter.

The memorial service was held at a Dublin Elementary School where Tom Cunningham worked as a custodian and where he was loved and respected. Hundreds of people attended, packing the school's multi-purpose room to overflow with some attendees forced to stand outside at the door.

Many tears were shed during the celebration of the life of Tom Cunningham.

"It was just a delight to see him everyday walking around with the children. I mean he loved all the kids," said Livermore resident and school parent Nancy Mitchell. "It's not the same."

"It's devastating to see this happen in this community," mourned Frank Andretta of Dublin. "I'm literally speechless."

The 38-year-old Cunningham was shot and killed last week in front of his 13-year-old daughter just blocks from their Hayward home. His title at Dublin Elementary was Head Custodian, but to faculty and students he was much more than that.

Members of his two families paid tribute to him at the memorial: the ones he lived with and the ones he worked with.

"His soul was a soul for service," said Dublin Elementary School teacher Ron Hubbard. "He just wanted to help and he was still a kid at heart."

Tom Cunningham's mother Retta Cunningham recalled her son's relationship to the children: "Tommy had a way with those kids and helped them get confidence that they could be a better citizen. They will not have a Mr. Tom to do those kinds of things anymore and the void will be felt here."

The school children he spent time with also came forward to share some of their heart-felt thoughts.

Nine-year-old Annie Andreetta remembered one special feature. "His smile was the biggest smile and he could light up the whole world."

Another student, nine-year-old Morgan Ferreira, had a similar recollection. "He used to have a smile on his face every day and when we came to school he used to say 'Hi' to everybody."

The song "Free Bird' by Lynard Skynard played during a video tribute. The lyrics include the words, "Cause I'm free as a bird now. And this bird you can not change."

For many of those at the memorial, it is their memories of Tom Cunningham that they will hold close and forever remain unchanged.

"It shows you if you have a life of integrity and you are humbled, but you go and help other people and you are a man with a smile on your face, you really effect people on a day-to-day basis," said Hubbard.

A private memorial service was held earlier in the day at Callaghan Mortuary in Livermore. The family has set up a fund for Cunningham's daughter's future education.

Hayward police said the reward fund for information leading to the arrest of Cunningham's killer is now at $27,000. While they have received some good leads, authorities said they still want to hear from anyone who knows anything.

Tips can be made to the Alameda County Crime Stoppers Hot Line at 510-293-7197.