Donald P. LaBarge
Donald P. LaBarge, 92, of Tupper Lake, died peacefully at home on Sept. 10, 2024, after being lovingly attended by his devoted family. He was born in Malone on March 10, 1932.
Don was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He believed and lived that the measure of a man was in how he took care of his family. He married the love of his life, Nancy Everest, on Nov. 17, 1951, and had four daughters: Jody (m. Milt Allione), PJ LaBarge, Shelley (m. Wallace Thomas), and Alicia (m. Rick Retrosi). He was also blessed with raising Christopher Farina, his nephew (m. Dee DeLeeuw). He has 10 grandchildren: Jennifer Fenwick (Laguna Beach, California), Carrie Pierce (Panama City, Panama), Stef Rosenzweig (Seattle, Washington), Nicholas Retrosi (Costa Rica), Samantha Retrosi (Saranac Lake), Erica Retrosi (Icy Strait, Alaska), Arielle Retrosi (Annecy, France), Eric Allione (Prescott, Arizona), Demi Larkin (Cary, North Carolina) and Cala Farina (Denver, Colorado). He also has three great-grandchildren: Savannah Pierce (12), and Raffi Rosenzweig (10) and Crosby Rosenzweig (8).
He was predeceased by his father, Berton LaBarge, his mother Beulah LaBounty LaBarge and his siblings Willard, Bert, and Helen Kennison. His only surviving brother, Bob LaBarge, and his wife, Sue, still live in Tupper Lake.
Don was an exceptional athlete at Tupper Lake High School, where he was an All-Northern football and basketball athlete. He was part of the 1948-1949 Northern League Pennant Winners and Class A Playoff Champions basketball team, that still holds a record 18 straight winning streak, the only undefeated team in a 40-year history of the league. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, and the volunteer manager of the K of C Hall for many years. He was an avid golfer and Twilight League player for most of his life and was also part of the volunteer group that replaced the grass on the back nine of the Tupper Lake Country Club. He was a partner of CEL Lumber for many years where he and his partners, Bob Chartier and Phil Edwards held a stellar reputation for quality products and residential and commercial construction in the Tri-Lakes area.
A funeral mass is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at St. Alphonsus Church. Arrangements are entrusted to Frary Funeral Home, Tupper Lake.
Online condolences may be made at www.fraryfuneralhome.com.