Oneonta, NY - ONEONTA - "You get one ride through life, so dare to dance the rapids."

It is with sadness that the family of Ted LaMonica announces his passing Sept 5, 2025 of natural causes. This quote was one of Ted's favorites - it spoke to his steady, good-natured approach to life, navigating its challenges with a sense of humor and can-do attitude. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Ted was an avid, well-known canoeist, proudly inducted into the General Clinton Hall of Fame in 2012 as an original member of the 700-mile club and for completing 40 trips down the Susquehanna from Cooperstown to Bainbridge. He loved a good fish dinner, telling stories of his many adventures, and encouraging others who set out on similar journeys, whether racing the General Clinton or paddling the entire Susquehanna from Cooperstown to the Chesapeake Bay.

Ted rarely sat around. He was always doing something out on the river, on the hill behind the house, in his wood lot, or caring for his home. He was a great cook and enjoyed hosting barbecues. And never hesitated to take a long drive - whether delivering his daughters to airports, picking up pottery in Amish Country, enjoying a beautiful day on backroads with June, or going all the way to Nova Scotia (a place that inspired him deeply).

In his younger days, Ted was an accomplished bowler, water skier, and builder of stone walls. He lived his entire life in Oneonta, where he enjoyed running his gift and yarn store, Wee Wooly Country Shop. In his later years, he became a gentleman farmer, making maple syrup and tending to his Hampshire sheep, and his beloved llama, Babar.

He is survived by his loving partner, June B. Porteus of West Davenport; sister, Jan Rawley-Smith of Ocala, Florida; brother, Keith Lunn of Port Kent; daughters, Christine La Monica-Lunn of Yonkers and Stephanie LaMonica of Portland, Oregon; grandson, Samuel Elder of Portland, Oregon; niece, Michelle Ellis of Oklahoma City; and ex-wife, Sue Ann (Graves) Simonds. He was predeceased by his parents, Grace and Carl La Monica, and his natural father, Orvis Lunn.

There will be no memorial or burial services. The family kindly requests that in Ted's honor, donations be made to your local 4-H club, and that you bring flowers to someone you love.