Joseph L. Berry

In Loving Memory of Joseph L. Berry July 26, 1948 - August 2, 2025 It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Joseph L. Berry, who died on August 2, 2025, at his home on Conway Lake in Conway, New Hampshire, after a lengthy illness. He was 77 years old. Though we all must die, not all of us truly live. Joe lived abundantly - curiously, adventurously and generously. He built a life shaped by hard work, and joy: skiing, sailing, traveling the world, raising two beloved sons, and founding a thriving business rooted in the landscape and community he loved. Joe was admired for his open-hearted nature, his quiet reverence for the natural world and his lifelong generosity - to family, to friends, and to the region he helped shape. His commitments to civic and environmental causes reflected a deeply held belief that one should leave the world better than one found it. Born in Binghamton, New York, Joe was the son of Joseph and Helen Berry. His father - a lawyer and passionate outdoorsman - ran a ski school in his spare time. Joe spent his childhood helping cut trails on his family’s ski hill and running the ski rental shop, where he developed his easy rapport with people. He explored the woods, raced sailboats with his father on Quaker Lake and the Finger Lakes, played tennis and skied all winter. After completing a post-graduate year at Proctor Academy, where he fell in love with New Hampshire, Joe earned a degree from the University of Vermont. He later attended New England School of Law in Boston, attending classes at night while working during the day - a testament to his formidable work ethic and determination. Early on, he discovered a passion for real estate, and by the mid-1970’s, he and a few friends had become the largest property owners in Marblehead, Massachusetts. But it was in New Hampshire that Joe found his life’s canvas. While skiing at Attitash Mountain, he noticed the region’s lack of lodging and envisioned a different future. At just 29 years old, he began building homes alongside the ski trails on land he had previously purchased, all on borrowed money. What began as a bold idea grew into Attitash Mountain Village, which eventually became the second-largest lodging facility in the state. Even as he developed the land, Joe insisted on preserving its natural beauty - often frustrating construction crews by insisting that many of the existing trees be left in order to protect the area’s natural beauty. He and his partner, Joy Tarbell, kept one of the trailside homes, and that is where they raised their two sons, Alec and Ace Tarberry. Under Joe’s leadership, The Berry Companies grew to encompass residential, commercial and resort properties throughout the region, employing more than 125 people and playing a central role in transforming the Mount Washington Valley into a destination to live, work and explore. Among the company’s flagship properties is the historic Eastern Slope Inn Resort in North Conway. But Joe’s legacy is not only built in brick and timber. He was a tireless supporter of the community and its institutions. He championed the Mount Washington Valley Rec Path, the North Conway Community Center, the Ham Arena, the Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Tin Mountain Conservation Center, the Mount Washington Observatory, the Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse, Arts Jubilee and Art in the Park. He served on the boards of the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust, the Conway Lake Conservation Association and the Attitash Race Team, which his sons raced for in their youth. He co-founded the MWV Soccer Club, supported the Bartlett Junior Nordic Program, Kennett High School’s Project Graduation and Key Club, and volunteered at countless local races and events including the beloved Red Parka Pub Challenge. In 2023, Joe was honored with the Bob Morrell Award for Civic Entrepreneurship, a fitting tribute to his lifelong service. Joe was also an avid traveler. He visited every continent except Antarctica, often combining his wanderlust with his love of sports. Some of his favorite trips were to his sons’ ski races. Ace raced for Dartmouth College and the U.S. Ski Team, while Alec competed for Middlebury College. Joe became a familiar figure on the ski racing circuit - so much so that he was often called upon to serve as a reliable forerunner at many of these races. Joe is survived by his loving wife of five years, France Mayotte Hunter, who cared for him with devotion through his illness; by his sons, Alec Tarberry, with his wife Laura and their two children, Theo and Brie, and Ace Tarberry and partner Alexi Mullen. He is also survived by his sister, Barbara Deysson; her son Bernard with his wife Sandy and their sons, Micah, Caden and Connor; and her daughter Madeleine Durkin, with husband Seamus and daughters, Colette and Chloe. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust, a cause close to his heart. A celebration of life will be held at Cranmore Mountain, on Sunday, September 14th, from 2 to 5 p.m. All are welcome to attend and share in honoring a life so well lived.