July 31, 2026
The MaineSkiFamily crew extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Archie W. “Bill” Berry Jr., former owner of Saddleback Ski Area from 2003 to 2020, who passed away recently.
Bill bought the mountain at a crucial time in its history, investing heavily in expanding the base lodge, building new lifts, increasing snowmaking capacity and expanding on-mountain real estate. Just as importantly, Bill and his family kept the Saddleback spirit intact, continuing to make it a place where all are welcome to enjoy its beauty and unmatched ski terrain. Bill and his wife Irene were very active in the Farmington area supporting Titcomb Mountain and founding the Sandy River Charitable Foundation.
Our family "discovered" Saddleback in the mid-2000s. We immediately fell in love with the vibe and fantastic ski terrain. Many of our kids' formative memories were on the drive up to Saddleback and sharing the slopes with each other. Our youngest son remarked "He made all the amazing ski days possible in my youth." So true. We didn't know Bill well, but everyone who knew him always said he was a very good man.
As current General Manager (and longtime Saddleback'r) Jim Quimby said on a recent Facebook post: "One of the nicest, kindest people I have ever known. I am blessed to have known both Bill and Irene."
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| Irene, second from left, and Bill, right, receiving the 2018 Salt & Light Award from the Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry (pc: Lewiston Sun Journal) |
Peace be with all those who knew and loved Bill. We are grateful for his stewardship of Saddleback, a place we love and call home.
We will post a link to the obituary when published.
Link to Lewiston Sun Journal Article for the Salt & Light Award - Click here
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