Frank Edward “Ted” La Liberte III passed away on April 16th, 2026, with his son and sisters by his side, after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. He was 67 years old.
Born April 25, 1958, in Kearny, New Jersey, Ted spent his childhood growing up in Barrington, RI. After graduating from Springfield College in 1980, Ted followed in the footsteps of his father as he began his career working for the YMCA, serving as program director for the Y’s in Montclair, NJ, Westport, CT, Albany, NY, and finally making his way full-time to New Hampshire with the Lakes Region YMCA in Laconia. While with the Y, he grew and spread his love of the outdoors, especially hiking, sailing, and canoeing. Over the years, Ted would spend winter weekends at the family ski house behind King Pine Ski Area in Madison, NH, and would eventually spend over 20 years working for the Hoyt Family starting in 1987.
During the winter, Ted ran the Knee-Hi Kids Ski School Program, where he taught thousands of children to enjoy skiing, while summers were spent at Purity Spring as the Recreation Director (or as he would put it, ‘Julie on “The Love Boat”’), leading groups on Saco River canoe trips, Swift River tubing trips, hikes all around the White Mountains, and teaching the art of tie-dye. It was during this time at Purity Spring that he began volunteering as a leader with North Conway Scout Troop 150, serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster, guiding multiple young men to earn the rank of Eagle Scout and teaching watersports and outdoor skills.
After leaving King Pine in 2008, Ted spent the better part of 10 years chasing his son, Torin, all over New England to various skiing and running events, as well as taking time in Rhode Island to care for his elderly parents. Ted was a constant fixture at Kennett High School Nordic and ski jumping events, as well as manning the hospitality table for four years at St. Michael’s College cross country and Nordic skiing meets.
Since 2019, Ted split his time between the New England Ski Museum and Wentworth State Park, sharing his passion for the outdoors and skiing with anyone who would listen.
Upon his diagnosis, Ted never thought he would eventually succumb to his cancer. He kept up his cheerful and chatty attitude throughout all of his chemotherapy and radiation treatments, treating them as social hours with fellow oncology patients and staff. Even after entering hospice, he was determined to help open Wentworth in May, never giving up until the very end.
Ted is predeceased by his parents, Frank La Liberte Jr. and Polly, and is survived by his son Torin La Liberte of Fort Kent, ME, sister Leslie Pritchard and her husband Jim of East Greenwich, RI, sister Laurie Garbacz of Madison, his nieces Christine Garbacz and Molly Mullen, and nephews Thomas Pritchard and Joseph Garbacz.
Services will be held on May 2, 2026 at Furber and White Funeral Home in North Conway, NH, with calling hours from 1-3pm and ceremony to follow. A further Celebration of Life will be held on a date yet-to-be-announced at Wentworth State Park in Wolfeboro.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Jen’s Friends Cancer Foundation or the New England Ski Museum, and think of Ted next time you’re on a mountain or at the lake.
