Theodore " Ted" Seelinger LaBarbera

Theodore "Ted" Seelinger LaBarbera, affectionately known as Teddy, passed away peacefully at home on July 2, 2026, at the age of 50. Teddy is survived by his beloved wife of 11 years, Trisha, his children, Noelle and Cameron, his cherished grandson and best friend, Sammy, his parents, Paul and Marjorie LaBarbera, his half brother Paul M. LaBarbera and his devoted cat, Viktor, plus countless extended family members and lifelong friends. He was preceded in death earlier this year by his beloved dog, Pupper, whose favorite place in the world was curled up beside Teddy on the couch. A true New Yorker through and through, Ted was born in NYC, NY, on March 24, 1976 and raised in Queens as Marjorie's beloved only child, where she doted on him. He attended catholic schools before earning his bachelor's degree at SUNY Albany and later completing his MBA at St. John's University. Throughout every stage of life from preschool through college, he built lifelong friendships that endured for decades. Love found Ted later in life when he met Trisha in 2007. What began as a decades long friendship with years traveling back and forth, Ted left behind the city he loved to start a new chapter in the slower pace of Summerville, South Carolina. They were finally married in October 2015 and built a beautiful life together filled with laughter, travel, unwavering devotion, and resilience through every challenge life placed before them. During the height of his career, Teddy was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal cancer that had metastasized. Diagnosed in 2020, he bravely fought cancer and all the up and downs of chemotherapy treatments, with his wife by his side, caring for him and lifting him up every step of the way. His leisure time was filled with personal joys that included a love for gambling and sports. He was an avid collector, and a lifetime fan of the Mets, Islanders, and Jets. One of his greatest joys was finally witnessing the Knicks win a championship in his lifetime, something he had waited decades to see. He especially enjoyed discussing Mets games with his father, Paul, making game days a heartfelt tradition. At home he loved to cook, his favorite being chicken cutlets, and never missed cocktail hour with his wife. Ted often joked that he hoped science would advance quickly enough for him to upload his consciousness into a computer. While that dream never became reality, his family finds comfort believing that, somehow, he is still watching over them. They hope he knows how deeply he was loved, how profoundly he will be missed, and that his memory will live on in every game played with Sammy, every family dinner shared, and every Mets game watched. LFGM! Forever our Teddy. Teddy’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, on Folly Beach, SC. His family would like to welcome all who wish to celebrate Teddy's remarkable life and legacy.

Theodore " Ted" Seelinger LaBarbera

March 24, 1976 - July 2, 2026