Benjamin E. Hersam

Obituary: Benjamin Eliot Hersam
September 4, 1978 to December 8, 2023
Benjamin Eliot Hersam was born in Nashua, NH on September 4. 1978. He was the third son of Bob and Betsy Hersam. The family lived in a home in Merrimack, NH. By the age of three months, Ben was found to have neurological difficulties and eventually Ben was diagnosed with seizure disorder and cerebral palsy.
Before Ben was a year old, the family got connected with the Moore Center in Manchester, NH which provided preschool and developmental programs. A physical therapist came to the Hersam home from the Moore Center routinely, to provide physical therapy treatments and evaluations. When Ben was a little bit older, he attended the Moore Center in person and traveled there in a small bus that picked him up at the house each morning.
In 1984, the family moved to Exeter, NH and Ben began traveling by bus to the Able Program for disabled youngsters in the Dondero School in Portsmouth, NH. He was about six years old at that time. Before 5th grade, Bob and Betsy led efforts within the court systems to get Ben included in the local public school system with an adult aid. This could best be described as a court battle, as the experience was arduous for both of his parents. Their efforts resulted in Ben and, later, other students like him being able to attend the local public school systems with trained adult aids. Ben attended school through high school, at Exeter High.
Ben was living with his family until March 1995 (16 years old). Then it became necessary for Ben to be taken care of by others. He was first moved into an apartment within a mile of his home with one caretaker from March to September of 1995. The caretaker had a fulltime job and Ben was still attending school. This was not ideal for Ben. He was next moved to the Exeter Healthcare Nursing Home from September 1995 to July 1996. This was close by, but again was not ideal for Ben or his family. From July to December 1996, Ben attended Crochet Mountain (a residential facility in Greenfield, NH - more than an hour away from the Hersam home). This was also not ideal for Ben.
Ben's parents and others worked with NH Region Eight to establish a group home to better meet the children's needs. After much effort a suitable house was located! Happily, it was not far from the Hersam's residence, making it easy for the family to visit Ben regularly. Finally, in December of 1996 (18 years old), Ben was able to move into his new home!
After experiencing some issues with vendors and staff, the parents of the group home met with Region Eight and were able to secure Crochet Mountain to run the group home up through 2022. Easter Seals took over the running of the group home after 2022 and continue to run it today.
Ben's life was fraught with physical ailments. When he was about 18 years old he had a couple of surgeries. The most successful was at Boston Children's Hospital that provided a G-tube for feeding to help decrease the likelihood of aspiration. As helpful as it was, it also removed the joy of consuming and tasting food for Ben
Ben always enjoyed playing with balloons. It would cause him to throw his head back and laugh or wave his right arm in excitement. Eventually he had to be limited in his use of balloons as his exuberance with them often brought on seizures. He enjoyed music and being read to from books and magazines. He enjoyed hand–over-hand activities like painting, using a computer mouse, and playing the game of Simon Says. The staff at the home even reported how much he enjoyed TV shows, especially General Hospital and action movies such as Superman or Batman; a true little boy at heart!
Ben has always been non-verbal, wheelchair bound, and has needed assistance with all activities of daily living.
One of his major issues was recurrent pneumonia from aspiration, requiring hospitalization each time. Eventually, it was this that led to his passing.
Ben passed away December 8, 2023 at 45 years of age.
He is survived by his two parents, Bob and Betsy Hersam, and four brothers and one sister: David Hersam (NH), Daniel Hersam (and Katie & four children - IN), Jon Hersam (Sariah & three children - AZ), Matt Hersam (and Lindsay & four children - UT), and Ellen Hersam (UT).
The Memorial for Ben is scheduled for Saturday, January 6th at 2pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 55 Hampton Falls Road, Exeter, NH. Family, friends, and caretakers are welcome.