A memorial service for Jonathan Amerault, avid sportsman and hiker, is scheduled to be held this weekend at Milford High School Track Field, where he competed as a student athlete.
Amerault, 25, of Keene, was killed on Sept. 19 or 20 in Annett State Park in Rindge, police say. Armando Barron, 30, of Jaffrey, has been arrested and charged with capital murder in the crime.
Amerault was a graduate of Milford High School, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2018.
While at Milford, he captained the indoor track, outdoor track and cross-country teams. The Milford High School Track & Cross Country Facebook page posted a good-bye to Amerault which included a picture of his teams’ championship season at their home track.
“We lost another teammate, friend, and Alumni today. Jon Amerault brought joy to everyone he met. My heart is very sad,” posted his former coach, Mike Wright.
On his Facebook page, several of his most recent posts are of scenic views he snapped while hiking New Hampshire mountains, many marking off a stated goal of completing a hike of the 100 highest peaks in New Hampshire. “Only 1 mountain left on the list!” Amerault enthused in a post on Sept. 7, after a hike up Mount Nancy and East Sleeper.
According to his obituary, he only had one mountain left to climb of the region’s 67 mountains over 4,000 feet, and had climbed 99 of the 100 highest peaks in the state.
Amerault was an employee of Teleflex, a Jaffrey manufacturer, where he worked as a biomedical manufacturing engineer.
“We are very saddened by the passing of our colleague, Jon Amerault. Teleflex extends our deepest sympathies and condolences to his family, friends and work colleagues during this difficult time. We are offering support to our employees in the aftermath of this tragic event,” Teleflex Corporate Vice President, Human Resources & Communications Cam Hicks said in a statement to the Ledger-Transcript.
According to his obituary, Amerault was an avid volunteer with the Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club in Milford during high school, and was recognized with the White House Youth Volunteer of the Year aware, by both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
“A Club kid since the first grade, Jonathan was an outstanding youth member who rose to become a Youth of the Year candidate as a teen. Our hearts and deepest sorrows are with his family and friends as they process the tragedy of his passing,” the Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club posted on Facebook.
Among his work at the Club, Amerault spearheaded the creation of the mural over the Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club entrance, which reads simply, “Be Great.”
A celebration of life for Amerault is planned for Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. at the Milford High School track and field. Those attending are asked to adhere to current guidelines by wearing a mask and observing social distancing. His family has identified the Be Outdoors Appalachian Mountain Club as their preferred recipient for memorial gifts.
Ashley Saari can b e reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.