It’s common for crowds to gather at the Potomac Avenue Metro station plaza while commuters make their way to work. But Tuesday afternoon, the station was visited by a funeral procession. Family, friends, and Metro co-workers gathered to honor Robert Cunningham, who the community is calling a hero after he was shot and killed while trying to save lives on the Metro platform.

His funeral procession trailed from Saint Camillus Catholic Church in Silver Spring to the Congressional Cemetery where nearly 200 people gathered graveside, included a stop at the Metro station. The procession included police officers on motorcycles leading the way and three Metro buses with Cunningham’s face on the side.

Just two weeks ago, on Feb. 1, the plaza was the scene of a rampage — a gunman shot a bus rider and then made his way down into the station, terrorizing passengers and shooting another person in the leg. It was on the platform of the Potomac Avenue station where Cunningham stepped in to save a life, but was killed in the process.

According to court documents and surveillance footage, a man pointed a gun at a woman on the platform. Cunningham, a Metro power mechanic who happened to be at the station, snuck up behind him and put him in a chokehold, but was shot and killed. The gunman was eventually tackled by riders and arrested by police. Isaiah Trotman, who was just weeks away from sentencing in a drug case, is now facing a murder trial. He had a history of mental health issues.

But Tuesday the focus was on Cunningham, who has been called a hero by many. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metro General Manager Randy Clarke attended his funeral.

Clarke said he’s heard many stories of Robert’s kindness, mentoring of new staff, caring for others, his love of music, sports, and his family.

“Robert’s courageous act saved lives, and we’ll be forever grateful for all he did to make our community, our Metro system, and the world a better place,” Clarke said at the funeral. “While we all get an opportunity to live, very few of us will ever be remembered as a hero. Your husband, your father, your colleague, and your friend is a hero, and we will always remember Robert as such.”

A GoFundMe has raised more than $200,000 to help his kids through college. Metro made wristbands and buttons printed with Cunningham’s radio call number: Power #1741. The Washington Post editorial board, has called for a permanent memorial to Cunningham and some say the Potomac Avenue station should bear his name.

Cunningham, 64, was remembered as a family man that would do anything for anyone.

He was born in Takoma Park, Maryland, and lived in Silver Spring. He leaves behind a wife of 15 years, Elisa. He had two children, Antony and Kelly,  and adopted her two other children, Daniel and Sophia, as his own.

“You made us a home and beautiful family,” Elisa said in Spanish through a translator. “You taught me what love is and I thank you for 15 years of happiness and for keeping our homes strong and united.”

At the grave site, Antony read a letter he wrote to his dad days after his death.

“I love you a lot and appreciate everything you did for me and this family,” he read. “I wish things didn’t have to happen this way and that you could have gone peacefully.

“I wish that I could have spent more time with you and appreciate you more. I wish that you are the last person that has to die wrongfully as a victim of senseless violence that plagues this earth. Love, your son, Antony.”

The family’s German Shepard, Duke, joined the graveside service and barked as Cunningham’s casket was lowered into the ground.

Photos posted by his family, show him holding babies, bottle feeding, celebrating birthdays, opening presents at Christmas, hugging his wife, on vacation in Seattle, at the beach, and shoveling snow.

Cunningham had worked at Metro for 20 years and was making plans for retirement, but decided to work longer so he could help his kids with college.

A colleague in the power department said Robert talked about his family often.

“He always said that he was here on this earth for you all, that he loved you all,” the worker said. “From the manpower of Metro, we give our condolences from all of us to all of you. Robert was a great person, a great colleague, and great friend.”

On his memorial page, friends and colleagues left notes of love for Cunningham.

Jarel Noble wrote that he worked with Cunningham at Glenmont railyard for three years.

“Mr. Cunningham was one of the first people I met there. He was a kind, hard-working family man who always wore a smile when he spoke in the morning,” Noble wrote. “Who he was as a person and what he did has left an impression on all of us. He will always be known as a hero and will be sorely missed.”

“Bob was a caring and helpful neighbor,” Mary Stickles wrote. “He welcomed us to the neighborhood and always had time to chat over the fence.

“He was ready to help with advice or the loan of a tool. He will be very much missed in the community.”

In recent months, Metro has dealt with a series of shootings that has disturbed riders and officials. Clarke, Metro’s general manager, has decried the gun problem for months.

“We have a gun problem in America,” Clarke said in December. “That’s not Metro’s problem. We are impacted by that, but there are shootings all over the place in America… And I’m tired of it.”