New Hampshire
'Magical' Massachusetts boy, 12, identified as victim in fatal run-in with tree on New Hampshire ski slope
A 12-year-old boy from Massachusetts was remembered as a “magical” middle school student after he died after an accident at a New Hampshire ski slope.
Jack Murrary, 12, was skiing at Cranmore Mountain in Conway, New Hampshire, New Year’s Eve when he struck a tree while navigating an intermediate trail. Authorities said in a release the young boy was wearing a protective helmet at the time of the accident.
The Conway Police Department said he was found unconscious and was rushed to MaineHealth Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“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 is the most magical little boy and was on his way to becoming a truly exceptional man,” his obituary says.
SKI ACCIDENT ON NEW HAMPSHIRE MOUNTAIN KILLS 12-YEAR-OLD BOY
Twelve-year-old Jack Murray was identified as the victim of a skiing accident in Conway, N.H., Dec. 31. (Keohane Funeral Home)
“His positivity and laughter are infectious. He is a loving and patient person who always sees the best in people. Jack is compassionate, empathetic and gives the best hugs. Jack is the greatest child a parent could ask for, and we are all better people for having known him.”
Jack, who played drums in the school band, had a GoFundMe established in his memory, and his family asked people to honor his life by donating to a music program in lieu of flowers.
“Helping other aspiring musicians like Jack get access to enrich their lives through the arts is a wonderful way to honor Jack’s memory,” his father, Paul Murray, wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Jack Murray was remembered for his passion for life and his varying interests. (GoFundMe)
In his obituary, the 12-year-old was remembered as a “bright light,” with his family listing an impressive list of interests the middle school student was passionate about.
“The brightest shining lights in life never shine long enough and Jack was that bright light for so many,” the obituary said. “Despite his short life he did more in twelve years than most do in a lifetime.”
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Murray was remembered for being a budding entrepreneur, playing soccer and the trombone and drums and for his artistic ability.
“Jack loved his family, friends and neighbors (told them that regularly) and he knew how much he was loved back. Jack’s absence will leave a hole in the hearts of everyone who knew him and the entire Weymouth community,” his family said.
“We ask that everyone take inspiration from the way Jack lived his short life and apply that to your own lives. We love you Jack always and forever!”
Skiers and riders make their way down the mountain at Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway, N.H. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
In a statement after the accident, a spokesperson for Cranmore Mountain Resort shared condolences for “this tragic loss.”
“On behalf of Cranmore Mountain Resort, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family,” a resort spokesperson said. “The entire Cranmore family grieves for this tragic loss.”
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Conway Police Chief Christopher Mattei echoed the ski resort’s sentiment, saying: “On behalf of the Conway Police Department and all the first responders who assisted, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the family members of the 12-year-old boy.”
Fox News Digital’s Christina Shaw contributed to this report.
An Alton man is dead after a snowmobile crash in New Hampshire’s North Country Thursday afternoon.
The New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game says 63-year-old Bradford Jones was attempting to negotiate a left hand turn on Corridor Trail 5 in Colebrook when he lost control of his snowmobile, struck multiple trees off the side of the trail and was thrown from the vehicle shortly before 3:30 p.m.
Jones was riding with another snowmobiler, who was in the lead at the time of the crash, according to the agency. Once the other man realized Jones was no longer behind him, he turned around and traveled back where he found Jones significantly injured, lying off the trail beside his damaged snowmobile.
The man immediately rendered aid to Jones and called 911 for assistance, NH Fish and Game said. The Colebrook Fire Department used their rescue tracked all terrain vehicle and a specialized off road machine to transport first responders across about a mile of trail to the crash scene.
Once there, a conservation officer and 45th Parallel EMS staff attempted lifesaving measures for approximately an hour, but Jones ultimately died from his injuries at the scene of the crash, officials said.
The crash remains under investigation, but conservation officers are considering speed for the existing trail conditions to have been a primary factor in this deadly incident.
Recently, I met with a husband who had been caring for his wife since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Her needs were escalating quickly — appointments, medications, meals, personal care — and he was determined to keep her at home. But the cost to his own wellbeing was undeniable. He was sleep‑deprived, depressed, and beginning to experience cognitive decline himself.
As director of the Referral Education Assistance & Prevention (REAP) program at Seacoast Mental Health Center, which supports older adults and caregivers across New Hampshire in partnership with the CMHC’s across the state, I hear stories like his every week. And his experience is far from unique.
Across the country, 24% of adults are family caregivers. Here in New Hampshire, 281,000 adults provide this essential care, often with little preparation or support. Only 11% receive any formal training to manage personal care tasks — yet they are the backbone of our long‑term care system, helping aging parents, spouses, and loved ones remain safely at home. (AARP, 2025)
REAP provides short‑term counseling, education, and support for older adults, caregivers, and the professionals who support them. We address concerns around mental health, substance use and cognitive functioning. After 21 years working with caregivers, I have seen how inadequate support directly harms families. Caregiving takes a serious toll — emotionally, physically, socially and financially. Many experience depression, chronic stress, and increased risk of alcohol or medication misuse.
In REAP’s own data from 2024:
- 50% of caregivers reported moderate to severe depression
- 29% reported suicidal ideation in the past two weeks
- 25% screened positive for at‑risk drinking
Their responsibilities go far beyond tasks like medication management and meal preparation. They interpret moods, manage behavioral changes, ease emotional triggers, and create meaningful engagement for the person they love. Their world revolves around the care recipient — often leading to isolation, loss of identity, guilt, and ongoing grief.
The statistics reflect what I see every week. Nearly one in four caregivers feels socially isolated. Forty‑three percent experience moderate to high emotional stress. And 31% receive no outside help at all.
Compare that to healthcare workers, who work in teams, receive breaks, have coworkers who step in when overwhelmed, and are trained and compensated for their work. Even with these supports, burnout is common. Caregivers receive none of these protections yet are expected to shoulder the same level of responsibility — alone, unpaid, and unrecognized.
Senate Bill 608 in New Hampshire would finally begin to fill these gaps. The bill provides access to counseling, peer support, training, and caregiver assessment for family caregivers of individuals enrolled in two Medicaid waiver programs: Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) and Choices for Independence (CFI). These services would address the very needs I see daily.
Professional counseling helps caregivers process the complex emotions of watching a loved one decline or manage the stress that comes with it. Peer support connects them with others navigating similar challenges. Caregiver assessment identifies individual needs before families reach crisis.
When caregivers receive the right support, everyone benefits. The care recipient receives safer, more compassionate care. The caregiver’s health stabilizes instead of deteriorating from chronic stress and neglect. And costly options, which many older adults want to avoid, are delayed or prevented.
There is a direct and measurable link between caregiver training and caregiver wellbeing. The spouse I mentioned earlier is proof. Through REAP, he received education about his wife’s diagnosis, guidance on communication and behavior, and strategies to manage his own stress. Within weeks, his depression decreased from moderate to mild without medication. He was sleeping through the night and thinking more clearly. His frustration with his wife dropped significantly because he finally understood what she was experiencing and how to respond compassionately.
The real question before lawmakers is not whether we can afford SB 608. It is whether we can afford to continue ignoring the needs of those who hold our care system together. In 1970, we had 31 caregivers for every one person needing care. By 2010, that ratio dropped to 7:1. By 2030, it is projected to be 4:1. Our caregiver supply is shrinking while needs continue to grow. Without meaningful support, our systems — healthcare, long‑term care, and community supports — cannot function. (AARP, 2013)
Caregivers don’t ask for much. They want to keep their loved ones safe, comfortable, and at home. They want to stay healthy enough to continue providing care. SB 608 gives them the tools to do exactly that.
I urge New Hampshire lawmakers to support SB 608 and stand with the 281,000 residents who are quietly holding our care system together. We cannot keep waiting until caregivers collapse to offer help. We must provide the support they need now — before the burden becomes too heavy to bear.
Anne Marie Sirrine, LICSW, CDP is a staff therapist and the director of the REAP (Referral Education Assistance & Prevention) program at Seacoast Mental Health Center.
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