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Frederick William Ludwig III Obituary
Frederick William Ludwig III
Frederick “Rick” William Ludwig III, died on October 31, 2026, after a brief fight against cancer. Rick was born on January 19, 1954, in Stamford, Connecticut, to Fred and Sharon Ludwig. Raised in Darien, Connecticut, Rick graduated from Darien High School in 1972, but it was the mountains of Vermont that would ultimately capture his heart and become his home.
Rick first came to Vermont in 1963, skiing at Magic Mountain, where his father was one of the founders. He became Magic Mountain’s youngest ski instructor and competed as a downhill ski racer. In 1972, Rick moved to Londonderry, Vermont, and in 1973, he met the love of his life, Barbara. Anyone fortunate enough to know Rick and Barbara knew theirs was a truly special partnership. They were rarely seen without holding hands, always laughing, going on adventures, and genuinely enjoying one another’s company.
In 1981, Rick and Barbara began building their dream home in Belmont, Vermont, where they raised their two children, Jamie and Eric. Their home was a place of love, laughter, hard work, and an open door. It was not unusual for someone who needed a place to stay to become part of the household. Rick believed deeply in helping others, often quietly and without expecting anything in return. He served his community through the volunteer fire department and lived by a simple principle: treat people with kindness and respect, regardless of where they came from, what they believed, or how different their lives might be from his own.
Rick was an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. In 1976, he started Taylor Rental in Rutland. He later traveled across the country driving an enormous green Peterbilt 18-wheeler for L&L Trucking, affectionately christened “Henny Penny” by Jamie and Eric. Over the years, he owned and operated Frederick Corp. Construction, the Mount Holly Country Store, and Deco Manufacturing, where he worked until his retirement in 2017. He was endlessly curious, mechanically gifted, and seemingly capable of figuring out how to do just about anything. He passed along to his children not only an extraordinary work ethic, but also a love of learning, an independent spirit, and a curiosity about the world around them.
Above all, Rick loved being outdoors. Whether he was hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, golfing, or simply enjoying the beauty of the places he called home, he was happiest outside. He had a lifelong love of horses, particularly his beloved Windsong, and spent countless hours hauling Jamie to horse shows, clinics, gymkhanas, and rodeos. The two even competed together in team penning. Country music was often the soundtrack to those adventures.
Rick was equally devoted to Eric’s athletic pursuits. He loved watching his son play football, first in high school and then at Williams College, where Rick became a fixture on game days. For four years, he organized an enormous tailgate for the Williams football players and their families after every home game, bringing people together with the same enthusiasm and generosity that defined so much of his life.
In 2010, Rick and Barbara began spending part of each year in Pine Island, Florida, where they built another wonderful community of friends. Rick earned his captain’s license and became a fishing guide, sharing his knowledge of the local waters and his passion for fishing with others.
Rick had a remarkable gift for making friends who became family. He was generous with his time, his talents, and whatever he had to give. He could be strong-willed and determined, but beneath that exterior was an enormous heart. He loved deeply, worked hard, laughed often, and lived life on his own terms. He taught his children and grandchildren by example that a life well lived is not measured by what you accumulate, but by the people you love, the experiences you share, and the kindness you extend to others.
Rick leaves behind his beloved Barbara; his daughter, Jamie Dickinson and her husband, Josh; his son, Eric Ludwig and his wife, Rachel; his five cherished grandchildren, Broden, Bentley, Will, Jack, and Emma; his sister, Lindy Kennedy and her husband, Jim; his nieces and nephews; and countless friends who became family along the way.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in Rick’s memory to the Mount Holly Community Association (mhcavt.org), honoring his love for the community he called home, or to Captains for Clean Water (captainsforcleanwater.org), an organization dedicated to protecting and restoring Florida’s waters.
The family will host a celebration of Rick’s life in Belmont, Vermont, in the summer of 2027.
May we all honor Rick by getting outside, casting a line, lending a hand, welcoming someone in, and holding a little tighter to the people we love.
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