"Here too short and now he's gone:" Father honors son lost in Las Vegas on 1st anniversary of shooting

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- October 1 marks the one-year anniversary of the Las Vegas mass shooting, the deadliest in American history where 58 people were killed.

One of the victims grew up in Wauwatosa and was celebrating his 44th birthday with friends.

Steve Berger was a basketball star at Tosa West High School. He played there in the early 90's where his dad Richard described him as 6'6, 225, and all muscle.

He's been gone for a year now but his family says the tragedy feels like it happened last week.

One year later, the memories are still so fresh in Richard Berger's mind, like the call he received in the middle of the night.

"There's been a shooting and I don't think...I don't know where Steve is but I think he was hit," said Richard Berger, the victim's father.

Steve's college roomate Josh left that voicemail and after they learned Steve died, Josh and his family made a memorial plaque for the Bergers. It sits right outside their front door in Brookfield.

It reads, "No farewell words were spoken. No time to say goodbye. You were gone before we knew it and only God knows why."

"Every time I come out of the house or come back I think of my son. There it is. I think it puts it well, as well as anything could be said about my son. He was here too short, and now he's gone," said Richard Berger. 

Steve leaves behind three children, Hannah, Harrison, and Harlow who have stayed with their grandparents for the last year.

Harlow is 9, Harrison is 13, and Hannah is now 16 and starting to drive.

There's a permanent memorial at Wauwatosa West High School. It's Steve's picture with his medals and accomplishments on display.