Families are calling on Long Beach officials to fix dozens of broken benches that were dedicated to people who have died.

About one-third of the 920 benches on the boardwalk are in need of repair, according to Long Beach officials. They say they have repaired 75 of them so far.

Louis Tancredi says his family purchased a bench on the Long Beach boardwalk as a memorial to his grandson who died back in 2006.

"It was for my grandson, Skyler, who was 14 years old and drowned," says Tancredi, of Long Beach. "We wanted to have a little something to remember him by so we could come down and reflect on his wonderful life that we had with him for a while. The slats broke and we've been unable to get it fixed. We keep trying and trying and calling and nothing ever happens."

Michele Sherry-Mosca says her family also had a broken bench. It has since been repaired. The bench is in memory of her brother, John Anthony Sherry, a bond broker who was killed on Sept. 11 when the Twin Towers collapsed. His remains were never recovered.

"This is where we decided to come for our peaceful visits with him," Sherry-Mosca says. "I know he's with me here. I definitely know he's with me here."

City officials say some of the damage is a result of people who use the benches for exercise. Sherry-Mosca says she's even seen people on them with bikes and skateboards.

News 12 is told they are ordering more material to do additional repairs after the summer season.

News 12 asked city officials about Tancredi's grandson's bench but has not heard back.