She said she was in church when she heard her son was dead. "I pray to God, 'Take me, take me, leave my son.' But it's too late."

Neighbor Brian Ballis, 50, of Oceanside said he would often see Seau, 43, on the balcony, or in the ocean paddle boarding or surfing. Two days ago, Ballis saw him playing the ukulele on his balcony, describing the tune as "Hawaiian-style music."

PHOTOS: Notable deaths of 2012

Seau was a familiar presence in the Oceanside neighbor and could be seen running along the oceanfront street with his dog.

Kevin Hardyway, 43, of Oceanside, a construction worker, has known Seau since middle school. They met in the seventh grade and played football and basketball together at Jefferson Middle School and Oceanside High School.

He said he was originally drawn to Seau, whom he referred to affectionately as Junebug, because they shared a competitive spirit.

"He was a good guy always trying to win," Hardyway said.

Over the years, Hardyway and Seau became more distant, but whenever Seau was in town, they would try to catch up and talk about their children and sports.

Juniors always been in good spirits," he said. "If something is bothering him, you won't know."

In 2010, Seau was involved in a crash near his home when the sport-utility vehicle he was driving went over a beachside cliff. The accident occurred after he was arrested in Oceanside on suspicion of domestic violence.

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Junior Seau: Autopsy could reveal more details about death