Nearly 2,000 people mourned Jacob J. "Coby" St. Phard at a service in Plainsboro Friday.
PLAINSBORO -- Well over a thousand mourners paid their respects to Jacob J. "Coby" St. Phard Friday morning during a service the Princeton Alliance Church here.
The 18-year-old from East Windsor who starred on the Notre Dame High School soccer team was killed this past Sunday by a train in Hamilton.
The church printed 1,500 programs for the service and ran out of them before it was over, a church official said.
Inside, mourners paraded past several photos of St. Phard as a boy and teen, many in which he is clad in a soccer jersey, or posing with teammates.
St. Phard also played for the East Brunswick Soccer Club's EB United team, and was set to play soccer for Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa. next year.
The teen's family started a GoFundMe page Thursday with a $20,000 goal. The page had over $18,000 in donations Friday afternoon.
"Coby will be missed very much, but lets do something that would honor his 18 years and help him continue to make an impact on this world," the page says.
HS soccer player killed by train had 'greatest personality'
"Although at this moment, we don't know exactly where these funds will go, we wanted to give everyone who knew and loved him a chance to do something in his name," the page says. "Who knows, if we get enough, we may even establish a scholarship fund for soccer player in his name."
In addition to his athletic prowess, Coby traveled to Exuma, Bahamas, where he took part on a Mission trip, and assisted with Christmas parties that benefited his grandfather's ministry, The Word In Action International, according to his obituary.
Coby is survived by his parents, Vladimir and Rachelle St. Phard of East Windsor; one sister, Kyler of East Windsor; grandmother, Gladys Bruno, grandfather, Joses St. Phard and his wife Chantal and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.