Michael P. Canniff

Atkinson, NH: Michael P. Canniff, 18, of Atkinson passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2014.

Born in Methuen, MA son of Robert A. and Anne E. (Fenton) Canniff, he was raised in Atkinson and attended Atkinson Academy and graduated from Timberlane Regional High School with the Class of 2013. Michael was a freshman at the University of Maine at Orono and was studying Forestry in the Environmental Science Program.

As a young boy, Michael played youth baseball and soccer. He also wrestled for Timberlane Regional Middle School. While at Timberlane Regional High School, Michael was a four year starter on the varsity lacrosse team. Known as a motivator among his teammates, Michael was elected captain of the lacrosse team during his junior and senior years. He was also a three year varsity hockey player and a four year honor roll student. Inducted into the National Honor Society as a senior and awarded the State of New Hampshire Scholar Athlete Award by Governor Hassan, he also received the Athletic Director's Student Athlete Award. Michael also volunteered his time coaching in the Timberlane youth lacrosse program and played for the New Hampshire Tomahawks Summer Lacrosse Team. He played youth hockey at New Hampshire East and the Cyclones of Northern Massachusetts. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hiking, hunting, and swimming.

He is survived by his parents, Robert A. and Anne E. Canniff, his brothers, Daniel R. Canniff and Thomas M. Canniff all of Atkinson, his aunts and uncles, William Canniff, James and Lee Fenton, Michael and Judith Fenton, Peter and Jannie (Giles) Fenton, and Stephen and Catherine Fenton, cousins, Shaye, Nora, and Clara, and his buddy, his dog, Onyx. He was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Helen (Powers) Fenton, his paternal grandmother, Jean (Mageau) Canniff, and his cousin Matthew.

Relatives and friends may call on Friday, February 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street, Plaistow, NH. His funeral will begin on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Anne's Church, 26 Emerson Avenue, Hampstead, NH. Burial will take place in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 114 Perimeter Road, Nashua, NH 03063, or the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 814 Elm St #300, Manchester, NH 03101. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website, www.brooksidechapelfh.com.