Fans of John Lennon gathered in Central Park Saturday to mark 32 years since his death.

As they have in years past, they met at Strawberry Fields to sing and pay tribute to the late Beatle.

Those NY1 spoke with say they will never forget what Lennon meant to them and to the music industry.

"The dayLennon got shot, I would have to say, is one of the worst days of my life," said fan Elliot Cohen. "I love the Beatles. They inspired me to pick up a guitar and want to play in a band and become a rock journalist, and John was my favorite Beatle."

"This will never stop," said fan Gary Dos Santos. "As a matter of fact, throughout the years, it grows, and it's always going to grow."

On December 8, 1980, Lennon was returning home to the Dakota apartment building on the Upper West Side when he was shot.

He was 40 years old.

Mark David Chapman pleaded guilty to the murder.

Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and has been denied parole seven times, most recently in August.