A seventh-grade boy at the Maria Chapman Middle School in Weymouth died over the school vacation break in a skiing accident in New Hampshire.
Jack Murray, 12, was skiing at Cranmore Mountain in Jackson, New Hampshire, on New Year’s Eve. Police said he was found unconscious after appearing to have struck a tree on an intermediate trail. He was wearing a helmet at the time.
“Jack is the most magical little boy and was on his way to becoming a truly exceptional man,” his obituary says. “Born on May 23, 2012, he is the adored son of Paul and Crystal and the loving and best ‘big bro bro’ to Finley Murray of Weymouth.”
Jack, who played drums in the school band, has a GoFundMe established in his memory. The site asks people to show their love for the young man by donating to the music program he loved in lieu of flowers. It has already exceeded its original $10,000 goal and a revised goal of $16,000 Friday morning. The goal was increased again to $28,000 as of early afternoon.
“Helping other aspiring musicians like Jack get access to enrich their lives through the arts is a wonderful way to honor Jack’s memory,” Paul Murray said on the GoFundMe page.
The obituary lists an impressive number of interests and accomplishments for such a short life.
Jack A. Murray
“He was an artist and musician who loved to draw, paint, build, invent, play trombone and drums in the Chapman Middle School Band with his friend Yuta Hardi,” it reads. “He was an entrepreneur who started an eBay store to sell thrift store finds. He sold cookies to local restaurants and sold and drew caricatures for the neighborhood with his friend Sam Young. He even created a clothing brand, shirt designs and built an online store all by himself (until he needed a credit card to accept payments.) Jack has a passion for everything in life, he is a soccer player, assistant coach for Finn’s team and referee in Weymouth Youth Soccer. He was on the Chapman wrestling team, loved basketball, paddle boarding with his mother, swimming, boating with his father, and movies at the Cameo with friends.”
Grief counselors were available at the school Thursday and Friday, Jan. 2 and 3. A voicemail left with the school’s principal, Jennifer Dolan, was not returned as of the time of this posting.
“The brightest shining lights in life never shine long enough, and Jack was that bright light for so many,” his obituary says.
Visiting hours for relatives and friends are Sunday, Jan. 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McDonald Keohane Funeral Home, 40 Sea St., Weymouth.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Jack Murray, of Weymouth, dies skiing. How family is remembering him
