New London – From tragedy, there is often inspiration. In ways not immediately apparent. And so it has taken time for Matt and Abby Rollins to find the strength to endure death and find a new respect for life through it.

Now, though, comes the Darin Robinson Jr. Father’s Day Basketball Tournament on June 18 at Toby May in New London, a tribute to the their son, the late Darin Robinson, 26, who died in Oct. 2014 with two other family members in a traffic fatality.

What better way to honor their fallen son than with a day of hope, tied to the sport he loved the most?

“We want to raise awareness toward distracted driving,” Abby Rollins said earlier last week. She said all proceeds raised from the day of hoops, auctions, face painting and food trucks will go to youth scholarships in her son’s name.

A primer: Rollins, the former New London High basketball great — coach Craig Parker calls him the “gentle giant” — has been married to Abby for 19 years. In Oct. 2014, Robinson, his girlfriend, Bonita Leary, their three-year-old son and stepdaughter were traveling from Groton to their home in Meriden. They were stopped in traffic in Waterford because of an accident. A tractor trailer never hit the brakes behind them. They were the first car hit. Only Leary survived.

“You take things day by day,” Abby Rollins said. “It’s something you think you can’t live through. But you get through day by day with some prayer and medication.”

And a basketball tournament.

“We want to make it a happy weekend,” Abby Rollins said, “and make it a great community event.”

Matt Rollins said, “I’ve been in New London forever. This is a community event that will bring people out. When I was young, we had the Don’t Foul Out Tournament and everyone looked forward to that. We’re trying to bring back something.”

The Rollins family said the tournament will feature five divisions with a $100 entry fee per team. The deadline to enter is June 11. Although Rollins, acknowledging the lateness, said “if you have a team, just show up and we’ll figure it out.”

“This is something that Darin would love,” Abby Rollins said. “Darin was amazing. So funny. The most loyal person ever. I couldn’t believe how many people came out for his funeral. Of all ages. Everyone knew him in Meriden.”

Robinson Jr., an organ donor, has already saved many lives, even in death.

“We’re accepting any help we can get,” Abby Rollins said. “Volunteers, donations for a silent auction, signed items, things like that.”

There’s a reason this tournament will happen Father’s Day weekend. Fatherhood was the most important thing to Robinson Jr., right there in front of his passion for sports. This tournament marries the two in the best way possible.

Rollins, who played at Central Connecticut and Mattatuck Community College, installs commercial solar paneling now after many years working with non-profits. Abby Rollins works with the Connections Counseling Center in Groton as a case manager. They’ve always been there for others in their communities. Now it’s time for the communities to be there for them.

It’s all but impossible for us to understand their grief. So often, we wonder what we can do and what we can say to help. Now he have something: Come on over to Toby May in mid-June and join the celebration. If you have a basketball team — and all the information is available on the Darin Robinson Jr. Tournament Facebook Page — join that, too.

As Matt Rollins says: This is a community event. A wonderful tribute. Joy though the pain.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.