Patriots fan who died at Gillette Stadium called 'loving soul': Here's how to help family

NEWMARKET — A fundraising effort has begun to help the wife of a Newmarket, New Hampshire man and father of two who died at Sunday’s New England Patriots game.

Dale Mooney, 53, was a “loving soul,” according to a GoFundMe page for his wife Lisa. Mooney died following what police have called an “incident” and one witness called a fight in the 300 section of Gillette Stadium during the Patriots’ game against the Miami Dolphins.

“A hardworking family man from the northeast who loved the New England Patriots… tragically passed away on Sunday evening,” the GoFundMe Page states. The page was started by relatives of Lisa and Dale Mooney and referred to what happened as an “unexpected incident while watching the game.”

“His legacy lives on through Lisa, Brandon, and Aaron,” the page states.

The incident is currently being investigated by Massachusetts State Police. Preliminary autopsy results did not suggest traumatic injury but did identify a medical issue, according to the Norfolk District attorney’s office.

The cause and manner of Mooney's death remain undetermined pending further testing.

"Our investigation remains open and ongoing," the Norfolk County district attorney’s office said in a statement Wednesday. "Any eyewitness who has not already been interviewed by police, or anyone in possession of original video of the incident, is asked to contact the State Police Detective Unit – Norfolk DA’s Office at 781-830-4990."

Previous story: Witness said Newmarket man was punched before he died at a New England Patriots game

A person who videotaped the incident said they saw Mooney punched twice in the head before becoming unresponsive.

The death has led to statements from the New England Patriots, who said the organization was “heartbroken” for Mooney’s family.

Mooney, season-ticket holder, known for kindness, acts of bravery

Mooney is described on the GoFundMe page as an “amazing husband and father.” He was married to his wife for more than 20 years, and as a father he was “constantly laughing and creating moments with them throughout their lives."

Mooney was also a devoted Patriots fan. He had his season tickets to the games for more than 30 years, according to the fundraising page.

Mooney has been commended for his bravery as well. In 2009, he was at Hampton Beach on a June day when he saved a young girl in danger, according to a Seacoastonline article at the time.

The girl was caught between the rocks along the northern part of Hampton Beach while trying to retrieve her boogie board. It was high tide and the rocks disappeared under the surf given the 30-mph sustained wind and rough water.

Mooney, 39 at the time, saw the girl and decided to help.

“The waves were slamming over her, and she couldn’t even stay on her feet,” Mooney said at the time. “She kept falling in between the rocks, trying to keep her head above water.”

Mooney, who was 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds at the time according to the article, told her to jump onto his shoulders during a break in the waves. They made it back to the sand, where bystanders thanked and praised Mooney.

Mooney had bruised ribs, swollen knees and cut shins, he said at the time, but said he was willing to help.

“There was no way somebody smaller than me could have handled that,” Mooney said.

2009 Seacoastonline article: Man rescues girl from the water at Hampton Beach

What happened at Sunday's Patriots game?

Police say law enforcement and safety personnel responded to the upper deck at Gillette Stadium shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday and found Mooney, 53, in “apparent need of medical attention,” the Norfolk County district attorney’s office said Monday.

Witness Joey Kilmartin shot video of what he said was a brutal fight between Mooney and another man.

In interviews with several local media outlets, Kilmartin said he saw Mooney, a Patriots fan, confront a Miami Dolphins fan who he had been arguing with during most of the game, which the Dolphins won.

“He basically engaged in mutual combat with another fan,” Kilmartin told The Boston Globe. “A lot of people started trying to pull them apart. ... It looked like somebody was in the middle of them, and then a man in the Dolphins jersey reached over and he connected with two punches to the victim’s head.

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Mooney’s wife, Lisa Mooney, said she feels numb and wants answers about how her husband died.

“I just can’t even believe this is for real,” she told WCVB-TV. “I want to know what happened. What caused this?”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH Patriots fan Dale Mooney mourned: Here's how to help family