Sam Berns, the inspirational teenager who battled a rare genetic condition that accelerates the aging process, was laid to rest Tuesday, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was among the many in attendance.
Berns, 17, of Foxboro, Mass., died Friday of complications of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, more commonly known as progeria. A funeral was held Tuesday morning at Temple Israel in Sharon, Mass., and Kraft was there to pay his respects, according to WBZ-TV’s Kim Tunnicliffe.
Berns’ story became the focus of an HBO documentary called Life According to Sam. The courageous teen also became a major inspiration for Kraft and the Patriots this season, after he visited the complex and attended a team practice earlier in the season.
Kraft released a statement Saturday following Berns’ passing, calling the teenager “inspirational” and saying that he felt lucky to have met him.
Berns was scheduled to be an honorary captain for the Patriots at their divisional-round playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
Photo via Twitter/@Patriots
