Jason D.C. Hilton

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Jason Donald Carl Hilton, 39, formerly of Merrimack, passed away peacefully in his sleep Jan. 22, 2010, at the Lowell Health Care Center in Lowell, Mass., from complications associated with a long battle with Huntington’s Disease.

Jason was born in Nashua and was the son of the late Raymond G. Hilton and Gail (Hebert) Sprague, of Merrimack. He moved to Merrimack in 1974 and graduated from Merrimack High School in 1988. While growing up he played football, baseball, soccer and basketball through the MYA in Merrimack and was also on the Merrimack High School wrestling and football teams. After graduating, he attended the University of New Hampshire at Manchester before transferring to Plymouth State College, where he earned a degree in business. He was one of the founding fathers of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Plymouth State and was also a member of the wrestling team.

Jason was also the inspiration for United We Stand For Jason, a nonprofit organization whose goal is not only to raise money for research and raise awareness of Huntington’s Disease, but also to improve the quality of life for those living with HD at the Lowell Health Care Center. The organization was started by his former high school football teammates, and Jason was so proud to be a part of it.

Jason was all about sports, football being his favorite. One of his favorite things was going to New England Patriots games with friends and his nephew, Randy. He enjoyed all the New England sports teams and attended home games whenever possible. Through United We Stand for Jason, and the New England Handicapped Sports Association at Mount Sunapee, he was introduced to the sport of skiing and enjoyed his trips up there to ski with his brother, John, his friends and fellow residents of the Lowell Health Care Center.

In addition to his father, Jason was predeceased by his grandfather, Raymond Hebert; his stepfather, Jonathan Sprague, and his nephew, Randy Lamont.

He is survived by his mother, of Merrimack, his brother, John R. Hilton of Weare, his grandparents Donald and Irene Sawyer of Milford, niece, Devan M. Hilton of Weare, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Calling hours were held Monday from 4-6:30 p.m. at the George R. Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Highway, in Merrimack. A funeral service was held at 6:30 p.m. in the funeral home. A spring committal of his cremated remains will be at Last Rest Cemetery of Merrimack.

In lieu of flowers, donation in his memory may be made to United We Stand for Jason, c/o Laure Gannon CPA, Sullivan & Gannon, 22 Central Square, Chelmsford, MA 01824.

For more information or to sign an online guest book, visit www.rivetfuneralhome.com.