Obituary of Ben Hollingsworth

Valentine Benjamin "Ben" Hollingsworth, 22 of Dover, MA passed away, Saturday, September 24, 2016, from a traumatic brain injury suffered in a fall at a wake-board park. Born in Boston, MA on November 22, 1993, Ben was the beloved son of Valentine and Carol Thieman Hollingsworth and dear brother to Juliet and Henry. Ben attended the Parent-Infant Program at The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, MA, starting at age 6 months and continuing through elementary school. He later attended the EDCO program at the F.A. Day Middle School in Newton, MA and then Dover-Sherborn High School in Dover, MA with TLC support. Ben was in his fourth year at the Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, NY where he was deeply involved in community service projects and was a dedicated member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, serving as their recruitment chair. Ben was an avid mountain biker, skier and snowboarder. From early on, he derived great joy from building practice jumps in the backyard. He had a passion for travel - collecting flags from every country he visited and keeping a list of countries he had yet to explore. Ben was known for his bright clothing, colorful spirit and passion for debate. We will dearly miss his infectious enthusiasm, courage and perseverance. Along with his parents and siblings, Ben is survived by his grandmother, Rosella Thieman of Minster, Ohio, step-grandmother, Margaret Thayer Hollingsworth of Kennebunkport, ME, his aunts and uncles, Tracy Hollingsworth and Harry Jones of Alexandria, VA; Helen Hollingsworth and John Reed of Wayland, MA; Laura Hollingsworth and Stephen Juers of Farmington, CT; Arthur Hollingsworth of Dallas, TX; Joan (Thieman) and Tom Forsthoefel of Xenia, OH; William and Ann Thieman of Minster, OH; Annette (Thieman) and Stephen Pollack of Concord, MA; Chandler Thayer and Christopher Tamulonis of Telluride, CO; Nat and Martha Schley Thayer of Watertown, MA and Katherine McCammond of Chicago, IL. Ben leaves behind many cousins whom he loved dearly. He was also grandson of the late Valentine Hollingsworth Jr. of Kennebunkport, ME; Carolie Woods and Marshall Noble of Pawcatuck, CT; and Bernard "Ben" Thieman of Minster, OH. All are welcome to a service in his memory at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Saturday, October 8 at 2:30 PM, 79 Denton Road in Wellesley, MA. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made in memory of Ben to The Learning Center for the Deaf, 848 Central St. Framingham, MA 01701