RICHMOND, R.I. (WPRI) — To his parents, girlfriend and closest friends, Lee Stetson was larger than life.

"He was such a great kid," his father Peter Stetson said. "Everybody loved him."

The 43-year-old was playing soccer in a men's league Monday night when his girlfriend, Jamie Sweet, told 12 News he suddenly collapsed.

"I thought somebody was going to help him up, but then he wasn't getting up," Sweet recalled.

Lee, who Sweet said had no pulse, was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

It was devastating news for not only Sweet, but also his parents.

Lee was their only child.

"We never had the chance to say goodbye," his father said through tears. "He was in such a good place ... There was just so much he had to look forward to and it was so tragic to see him go."

Lee was a lifelong Rhode Islander who taught Spanish at Exeter-West Greenwich High School for 16 years. He also coached basketball at the high school and was the proud father of his rescue pup Amos.

His loved ones described him as being charismatic and empathetic with a contagious sense of humor and positive attitude.

"He did the right thing, always," Sweet said. "He just knew the right thing to say or the right thing to do."

"He was such a light in so many people's lives," she continued.

Andy Bicknell and Daniel Brillat, who have been friends with Lee for 35 years, told 12 News he was the "life of the party."

"He's the reason I try to be funny. I always aspired to be like Lee," Bicknell said. "He had a smile and laugh like nobody else's."

Brillat said he always looked up to Lee and appreciated his "ferocious wit."

"He was always there," he explained. "I would not be any of the person I am if it weren't for him."

Brillat described Lee, who was one year older than them, as being their "guiding light" growing up.

"He was always going through life first, so we always knew what to expect," he said.

Lee's cause of death has not yet been determined. Though the loss has been difficult to process, his loved ones have found comfort in knowing he touched the lives of so many.

"It's bittersweet, because it's nice to hear how people felt about him and the impact he had, but then it just makes you miss him that much more," Sweet said. "It makes me feel so thankful that, even in the short time we were together, that I was privileged enough to be loved by him and to love him."

Calling hours will take place Sunday from 2-5 p.m. at the Avery Storti Funeral Home in South Kingstown. His funeral will be held Monday at 10 a.m. in Christ the King Church.

Lee's loved ones are asking for donations to be made in his honor to Project Goal, which provides educational support to young athletes, or the EWG Athletic Boosters.