Edward "Ted" Tyler III

Edward "Ted" Judson Tyler, III

Ted Tyler, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, lawyer, friend and longtime steward of The Tyler Place Resort, died peacefully surrounded by the love of his wife and family on August 30, 2026. Born June 6, 1934, Ted lived a life deeply rooted in family, friendships and Franklin County - the place he loved most dearly.

Ted grew up in Highgate Springs, on the shore of Missisquoi Bay, where his parents Ed and Judy purchased a dairy farm in 1933. Ted also spent part of his childhood in New York City and attended St. Anne's Academy, Eaglebrook, Phillips Andover, and Yale University before earning his law degree from Harvard. These experiences gave him both a deep connection to Vermont and an appreciation for the wider world.

Ted worked as a trial lawyer for almost forty years, as the owner and senior partner of Northern Trial Associates in St. Albans, Vermont. Ted believed in supporting the local community. He served in various capacities on countless committees and boards performing and promoting civic and charitable activities in Franklin County. Too numerous to mention them all, they included: Board of Managers of the VT Bar Association; the American College of Trial Lawyers; Swanton Town Moderator; MVUHS Moderator; Franklin County Republican Chairman; Chairman of the Incorporators of Northwest Medical Center; Rotarian for many years; Lake Champlain Committee Board; Citizen's Advisory Committee on the Future of Lake Champlain; and President and Finance Chair of United Way of Franklin County. Ted's work as the Swanton Town Moderator, a challenging job, earned him a short article in the New York Times.

Ted eventually "retired" from practicing law and turned his energy full-time to The Tyler Place Resort. Working alongside his beloved sister Pixley, Ted helped guide and grow the resort into an extraordinary and renowned family destination.

Ted loved The Tyler Place. It defined him. He loved the land, the history, the traditions, the guests, and the staff. Over the years, he developed warm and lasting relationships with countless guests and had enormous appreciation for the terrific staff whose hard work and dedication contributed to the special spirit and unique culture of the resort. The Tyler Place was not simply a business to Ted; it was part of his family and part of who he was. Every guest and staff member has probably read Ted's "A History of The Tyler Place and Highgate Springs."

A wonderful dad, Ted loved to play games and have fun with his six kids. He took them skiing most weekends throughout their childhoods, enduring endless versions of "100 bottles of beer on the wall" on the Rotary bus. The morning after a new snowfall, there would be games of Fox and Hounds, but only when the firewood for the week had been split and stacked. Ted organized elaborate weekly chore lists subtly making the work into a game. There were tickle fights, board games, races, popovers for breakfast, puffballs for dinner, and holiday games of Murder and Sardines. He read aloud from The Wonder Clock at bedtime, and at Christmas he spoiled everyone. These traditions Ted started became treasured memories for his children and grandchildren.

As a Vermonter who loved the outdoors, Ted fished and hunted throughout his life taking memorable trips to Northern Quebec with friends and family, often including week-long explorations of remote rivers with multiple canoe portages. There was also the tennis gang whom he enjoyed batting the ball (and stories) around with for decades. But closest to his heart were the annual fall family trips to Orleans, Massachusetts, where everyone boarded Captain Dick's boat to cast for bluefish and stripers and then return for a feast and rousing games of cards.

Ted certainly wasn't against having some fun indoors as well. Be it bridge at the Owl Club or presiding over a Tyler Place happy hour, Ted loved being with people. Generous, amusing, and deeply interested in good conversation, Ted loved a good story, a challenging game, a rum punch - and let's not forget jazz and dancing.

Deeply committed to his family, as a beloved husband, brother, father and grandfather, Ted leaves behind his adored wife Cathy, sister Pixley, six children Sarg, Geoff, Cam (Jess), Tasney (Nate), Chad (Patsy), Quint (Julie), his former wife and mother of his children, Carol Shepherd, step-son Rick, niece Pixita (Luke), nephew Hector, cousin Clare, ten grandchildren Alexis (Tomy), Sam (Amanda), Will, Lachlan (Abby), Mason, Tyler (Gaby), Eric, Eleanor, Ben, Charlotte, two step-grandchildren Emma and Mollie, 4 great-grandchildren Nora, Ollie, Deacon and Poppy, great-nieces Anza and Maria and great-nephew Tucker. He also had a wide circle of friends, colleagues, Tyler Place guests and staff whose lives he touched. He will be dearly missed.

Calling hours will be held at the Goss Life Celebration Home, 89 Grand Avenue, Swanton, from 4-7 PM on Friday, September 18.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain https://www.friendsofnorthernlakechamplain.org/donate or the Swanton Community Food Shelf (serving Swanton and Highgate) or the Northwestern Medical Center Annual Appeal https://www.northwesternmedicalcenter.org/giving/annual-appeal-donation-form/

Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through www.gossfs.com