Middle School Girl From Milton Dies In Aruba Boating Accident

MILTON, MA — Students and staff at a private school in Cambridge are mourning the loss of a 13-year-old girl from Milton who died Wednesday while on vacation with her family, officials say.

Cassidy Murray was a seventh-grade student who passed away after a boating accident in Aruba, Jennifer Price, Head of Buckingham Browne & Nichols Middle School in Cambridge told students and faculty.

"Our entire BB&N community is profoundly heartbroken as we grieve the loss of Cassidy. She joined our Middle School this fall and immediately created a unique mark on our campus," Price said in a statement Friday. "Cassidy had a special gift for uniting classmates with her smile, laugh, and genuine kindness. People just gravitated to her, drawn by her great sense of fun and camaraderie."

According to Price, Murray was known for taking on new challenges, playing everything from hockey to gymnastics, while loving every second of drama class. "She came out of her shell towards the end of the season, happily playing against much stronger teams and just enjoying being out on the ice," Murray's hockey coach told the school.

Murray was also proud of her Irish heritage, which was displayed beautifully with a Claddagh-ring mug and Celtic-cross plate that she made in ceramics class.

"It is with broken hearts that we share the news of the tragic passing of our daughter, Cassidy. Cassidy's beautiful spirit, genuinely kind heart, bright mind, and joyful zest for life will be profoundly missed by all who knew and loved her," her family said Friday. "We thank everyone for their love and support and we ask that you please give us the time and space to grieve together privately during this difficult time."

Counselors will be on hand Saturday at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School Middle School from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Monday when students and staff return from school vacation.

"We are holding the Murray family close in our thoughts and hearts, especially her brother Adam who is a 10th grader at BB&N. Here on campus, we are doing our best to support our students and each other as we all navigate this unimaginably difficult situation," Price added. "To put it simply, we are devastated. "