Obituary of Mr. Harry Wirtz

Harry Wirtz, 80, Photographer and Beloved Father and Grandfather.

Harry Wirtz, 80, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, after a prolonged illness. He was born in Peekskill, NY, on February 24, 1946, and lived a life marked by kindness, curiosity, creativity, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the natural world.

Harry grew up on a farm in Mahopac, New York, where he developed, among other things, his lifelong distaste for tomatoes. He graduated from SUNY Albany with a bachelor’s degree and turned his passion for photography into his life’s work. He worked professionally in product photography and was capable of photographing just about anything—but he liked to joke that his idea of hell would be spending his days as a wedding photographer. He did, however, make an exception to lovingly photograph his son and daughter in-law’s wedding. Harry’s real love was photography that allowed him to explore the outdoors and capture the beauty he saw around him. He was particularly gifted at nature and landscape photography, and his photographs reflected his patience, keen eye, and appreciation for quiet moments.

After moving from Mahopac, he settled into his dream home: a cottage in the Adirondacks with his longtime life partner, Lynne Holstein, and their cherished cats. There, surrounded by the mountains and landscapes he loved, as well as the hummingbirds that frequented his front porch feeders, he found a place that suited him perfectly. He enjoyed the peace and beauty of the Adirondacks and the opportunity to pursue his photography. Harry also spent much of his time enjoying meaningful friendships and developed lasting relationships with many local artists.

He was, above all, a kind and compassionate person. He taught his son and others close to him the importance of treating others with compassion and understanding, and that lesson will remain one of his most enduring legacies. He loved his cats and frequently talked about getting a dog of his own. Although he never quite took that final step, he was always happy to visit and spend time with the dogs when he came to see his family.

Harry was preceded in death by his longtime life partner, Lynne Holstein. He is survived by his son, David Wirtz, and his daughter-in-law, Mary; his granddaughter, Melanie, who attends SUNY Binghamton; his grandson, Matthew, who attends Cornell University; and Todd Shenkin, Lynne’s son, who was like a son to him as well and his daughters Elle and Gabriela. He was previously married to Suzanne Kramer. He also leaves behind the many people whose lives he touched through his kindness, friendship, and gentle nature.

His family will remember him not only for his talent as a photographer, but for the way he saw the world-with curiosity, appreciation, and compassion. He found beauty in landscapes, in quiet moments, and in the people and animals he loved. His photographs captured some of that beauty; the lessons he left with his family and friends will carry it forward.

There will be no funeral or formal service, because we all know Harry would have hated that. His ashes will be returned to the Adirondacks, the place he considered home and where he found peace, inspiration, and happiness. There, among the mountains, forests, lakes, and changing light he loved to photograph, he will remain close to the landscape that shaped his later years and gave him a sense of belonging.

Harry’s family and friends will carry him with them—in the compassion he encouraged, the beauty he revealed, and the memories he left behind. His life was a quiet testament to the power of kindness, creativity, and paying attention to the world around us.