Man Killed In Framingham Fire Was Local Business Owner

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The man killed in a house fire Monday night in Framingham has been identified as Ralph Halpern, 67, the longtime owner of the former Westborough Package Store — which had been in the Halpern family for more than 100 years.

Framingham firefighters responded to Halpern's Swift Road home at around 7 p.m. Monday. They found heavy smoke and fire pouring from the home, and it took about an hour to get the blaze under control.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said Wednesday that the fire was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

Investigators believe the fire started when a smoldering cigarette ignited a couch in the home's living room. Halpern may haven fallen asleep while smoking, officials said.

"I want to extend my condolences to his family and also remind the community of the need to dispose of smoking materials properly. This is tragically already the third fatal fire of this type in Middlesex County this year," Ryan said in a statement.

The Westborough Package Store closed several years ago and was replaced in 2017 by Westborough Cork & Grain. The store dates back to 1917 when Halpern's grandfather, Sam, opened it as the Central Market. Ralph Halpern began working in the store in the mid-1970s, and owned the 2 West Main Street building it was located in.

"I was brought up here. I've watched the town grow from farms to a busy place... A lot of days it's more like fun than work. It's (my) passion," Halpern told a Patch reporter in 2011 about the store.