The Tinley Park athletic community is mourning the sudden death over the weekend of 42-year-old Ares Roper, a coach with the Bobcats baseball program.

Roper was coaching the end of his 13-year-old son’s baseball game Friday when he collapsed on Vogt field in Tinley Park. More than 200 people had donated as of Monday afternoon to an online fundraiser created by the Tinley Park Athletic Club.

Roper, an Air Force veteran, coached elementary and middle school baseball teams for almost 10 years, and leaves his wife, Erica Roper, and two sons, Ethan and Liam.

“Coach Roper devoted his springs and early summers to Bobcats Baseball, and his late summers and falls to Bulldogs Football,” the fundraising page states.

“Beyond the field and the kitchen, he was a fixture in the stands, cheering on Ethan at Andrew High School and Liam with the Bulldogs wrestling program,” it states. “His presence was larger than life, his encouragement unwavering, and his impact immeasurable.”

No matter the score, Roper was smiling, said Eric Schmidt, a commissioner for the Tinley Park Athletic Club.

“He was a father figure for more kids than I can count,” Schmidt said. “It’s just one of those things that just kind of reverberates communitywide. Everybody’s devastated and just wanting to support the people that always supported everybody else.”

Brett Jurishi, who coached football with Roper last fall, said he was shocked upon hearing the news Saturday. He said Roper planned on coaching this fall and the two led a football camp June 16, after which they ordered pizza and spent time with the families. Roper loved grilling and wanted to feed coaches and families at any chance he had, Jurishi said.Both Jurishi and Roper juggled coaching community teams on top of full-time jobs, and Roper still found time to show up for his sons and players, Jurishi said. Last week, he said he ran into Roper helping his son train for fall football tryouts.

“It didn’t matter what kid or where their background came from, he could connect with them easily and was really, really loose with the kids, but then knew exactly how to motivate them and get the most out of them,” Jurishi said.

Jurishi said there were plans to honor Roper Monday night at Gunzi Field in Tinley Park, with the players lining up during the national anthem. Jurishi also said there’s other plans to support Roper’s family.

“Both of his sons are honestly probably the sweetest kids you’ll ever meet, so I’m still fortunate to be able to see them,” Jurishi said. “We’ll always be there for them, as if they’re my own kids.”