Hopkinton, NH – John “Jack” Edward Friberg, Sr., 84, of Hopkinton, NH, passed away peacefully at home on September 23, 2026, surrounded by the love and comfort of family. A dedicated advocate, trusted advisor, friend to many, and devoted husband, brother, father and grandfather, he lived and worked in the New Hampshire legal and medical communities for most of his long and remarkable career.
Born on May 12, 1942 to John R. and Martha (Garner) Friberg, both from Manchester, NH, Jack grew up in Manchester, attending Lincoln Street School and Central High. In 1963, while at Colby College, Jack met his future wife, Virginia “Ginny” Turner from Exeter, while Ginny was attending Connecticut College. Following his graduation from Colby in 1964, Jack and Ginny married in 1967, while Jack was attending Boston University Law School.
Following his graduation from law school, the couple moved to Warner Robins, GA, where Jack was stationed as a USAF Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer at Robins AFB from 1967 to 1970. Jack was later assigned to the 432nd Combat Support Group, where he served at Udorn AFB, Thailand and Cam Ranh AFB, Vietnam from 1970 to 1971.
After returning from overseas to his young family, Jack and Ginny made their home back in New Hampshire, moving to Hopkinton in 1971, where they have remained ever since. Jack practiced law at the Sulloway firm in Concord, NH from 1971 to 1972, where he began work as a trial lawyer, defending doctors, nurses and hospitals, learning from the legendary trial lawyer Ted Soden, who remained a lifelong friend and mentor. This first foray into the legal world, after his military service, set Jack on a professional path that would carry him through the next fifty years. Moving to the Wadleigh firm in Manchester, NH in 1972, Jack developed the medical defense trial practice at that firm, working closely with another mentor and highly skilled trial lawyer, Phil Peters, who also would become a lifelong friend, mentor and close colleague. Jack worked at the Wadleigh firm for 47 years, retiring in 2019. Over the course of almost five decades, Jack defended many hundreds of doctors, nurses and hospitals, and is estimated to have defended over 100 jury trials. Other than his greatest joy, his family, one of Jack’s proudest accomplishments was being inducted in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1990.
Jack is remembered fondly, and with a smile, by all who were fortunate to have crossed paths with him. He was a skilled and tireless advocate, dedicated to defending medical professionals. However, perhaps even more noteworthy, was the supremely decent, kind and friendly manner in which he did so. Jack had the gift of being able to authentically relate to and connect with anyone, and to build relationships and trust, with integrity, humility and always a healthy dose of humor and fun, even in the most stressful or challenging of situations. In this way, Jack Friberg was, and will always be remembered as, paradoxically yet effortlessly, The Happy Warrior.
He leaves behind his loving wife and partner in all aspects of life, of 58 years, Ginny (Turner); his sons John E. Friberg, Jr. (Kate) of Hopkinton NH, and Gregory R. Friberg, MD (Patricia) of Westlake Village, CA; and his sister Margery Blume (Frederick) of Waltham, MA. Jack adored and derived tremendous happiness from his family, most especially his four beloved grandchildren: Julia, Brooke, George and Geoffrey.
Services: At Jack’s request, a private graveside ceremony with military honors will be held in Old Hopkinton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Granite VNA, 30 Pillsbury Street, Concord, NH, 03301, www.granitevna.org/donate.
The Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 537 Union Street, Manchester, NH has the honor of assisting the family.
For more information or to sign the online guest registry, please visit www.connorhealy.com.
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