Sean Patrick Collins of Bedford Massachusetts died early Friday morning, May 2, 2025 surrounded by his family. He had been battling melanoma for five years while building a life filled with love, joy, family and football (soccer).

Born in Halifax, UK on September 10, 1994, he grew up in Yorkshire in the village of Ripponden. Even while attending Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Sean showed remarkable skills of a natural athlete and an easy ability to form deep friendships both on and off fields of play. During his subsequent school years at Ryburn Valley High School his innate skills and self-discipline made him a prodigious opponent in football, rugby, and cricket. This led to a scholarship (to play cricket!) that allowed him to attend the prestigious Rishworth School. His cricket and football career at Rishworth was exemplary, and he eventually was selected to and captained the English Independent Schools Football Association national soccer side.

Concurrent with his primary and high school education, Sean was able to consider a professional career in football by playing nine seasons as a part of the Huddersfield Town Academy. Following his secondary school education, he then played professionally as a Huddersfield Town Academy Football Player for 18 months. After a knee injury curtailed his play, he decided that his future lay in the direction of developing skills in others rather than just himself.

Sean emigrated to New York in 2013, accepting a full athletic scholarship at Dowling College on Long Island. He completed his university soccer career at Long Island University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, then attained a Master of Science in Childhood Special Education from Touro College. He used his athletic talents to provide opportunities to grow into the caring coach, teacher and friend for whom he is most remembered. The sensitive young man combined his education with his athleticism, completing his transformation into 'Coach Sean': the beloved friend and teacher of life skills that impacted so many people in his shortened life. His early coaching career included coaching two- to four-year-olds as a Happy Feet Soccer Coach, serving as the Men's Assistant Soccer Coach at Long Island University, and serving as the Youth Program Director at Colonial Sports Group in Southampton, NY. Upon graduation from his university training he taught at the Ross School in Bridgehampton, NY before moving with his new bride, Kristin Bergethon to Boston, where he was the Teams Director for Steel United youth soccer.

Through his many years as player and coach, Sean made lifelong friendships and delighted in his ability to spread both a love of the game and a love of team spirit to players young and old. He never lost the deep sense of the opportunities provided by his talent. Sean was described by both teachers and his many friends as having a deep humility and understanding of this grace and what it offered him. Everyone he touched was impacted by a personality and leadership style characterized by deep kindness and caring for others. He influenced innumerable young people. One parent described his impact: "the message is that Sean showed the boys how to be competitive and smart and fierce while also being vulnerable, resilient and empathetic. We are lucky to have Sean as a role model for our boys".

Sean is remembered for many things, but his love for Leeds United football and Leeds Rhinos rugby is prominent. Everyone who knew him even briefly will recall the fire in his eyes and excitement in his voice as he reveled in detailed accounts of a Leeds United game. Poignantly, even in his last days, he watched with glee as Leeds United once again reclaimed ranking as a team in the English Premier League.

Sean made friends easily because he was a great friend. He had deep love for his friends and family and was loved in return. Games, banter, and laughter filled so many moments with Sean. Many evenings were consumed with playing word games of strategy fueled by friendly competition and lubricated (for Sean) by some cider made from a wide variety of fruits. For anyone lucky enough to witness Sean with his parents, sisters, or friends, the depth of his love for each of them was self-evident.

Of all his loves, the ones that Sean treasured most were for his wife Kristin and their five-month-old daughter, Evelyn Quinn Collins. Kristin and Sean had a life filled with great joy, laughter, hopes, dreams, plans, and love in the five years they were given together. They traveled, they explored, they shared curries and other foodie treasures, and they walked their golden retriever, Murphy. The best times were the time they simply enjoyed being together. Sean had enormous pride and pleasure in the too-short time that he and Kristin shared in the miracle of their daughter, Evelyn. Sean will be remembered by all for his warmth, his kindness, and his endearing smile.

Sean Patrick Collins is survived by his wife Kristin Elizabeth Collins (Bergethon) and daughter Evelyn Quinn Collins (both of Bedford, MA); his mother Kathyrn Margaret Collins (Helliwell) and her partner Andy Hamilton Varley; his sisters, Niamh Alicia Collins and Aislinn Mae Collins (all of Ripponden, UK); and his father Michael Stephen Collins and step-mother Diane Marie Collins (Dixon) (both of Abbeyfeale, IRE).

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory ma be made to Sean Collins Memorial Scholarship at Southampton Town United Soccer Club. Gifts can be given online at https://gofund.me/05179019

Memorial Services will be held at The Fleece Countryside Inn in Ripponden, UK on June 9th at 1pm and at The Clubhouse in East Hampton, NY, USA on July 26th at 2pm.