My dad, Peter Wageck, was born on June 17th, 1943 in Obrigheim, Germany, a small town in the district of Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis (say that 5 times fast). Growing up, he had four role models— the German soccer trio Beckenbauer, Netzer and Müller and his mother Helen Wageck, my Oma. It was from her, that he inherited his strength, stubbornness, and love for family (but unfortunately for us, not her famous sugar cookie recipe).
My dad did a lot in his life. He was outgoing, adventurous, played semi-professional soccer in Germany for four years, built fighter jets in the German Air Force and even followed a magazine ad for a job all the way to Hong Kong. There, he traveled all over the world from Singapore to the Philippines, learned multiple languages (even though his German accent made his Cantonese like nails on a chalkboard) and most importantly, met the love of his life, my mom, Mona Wageck. He lived there for 10 years until 1986, when his company transferred him to (you guessed it) a small town in Central New York, named Cortland.
After a few years, my dad started his own company, Cortland Foundations, LLC. You may even recognize the big red brick building on the corner of E. Court St. He was smart, driven, maybe a bit hardheaded and, without a doubt, incredibly proud of his work.
My dad loved life, his birthday, being outside, a long ocean dip (in a speedo none the less), Cuban cigars, good food, his dogs, playing golf, tennis, watching German soccer, Life Is Good t- shirts, his friends and, most of all, his family.
I know it’s unrealistic, but I never thought I would be writing one of these for my dad. He was a fighter, but after 2 years battling bladder cancer, my dad left us February 22nd, 2022 in the afternoon, at home, surrounded by the people he loved.
His sister Barbara Tidow, daughters Simone Felix and Nicole Williamson, grandchildren Tobias and Florian Felix, his wife Mona Wageck, and their entire extended friends and family miss his larger-than-life personality more than words can express.
There will be a celebration of life at the Wageck home in June, on what would have been his 79th birthday. In the meantime, we ask that you honor his life by living yours to the fullest.
Whether it be going back for seconds, driving with the windows down, having a Chivas on the rocks at the 19th hole or soaking in some sun with your feet in the sand, may his spirit live on within all of us and the memories we share.
To my dad — we love you and we will miss you, every day. Love, Mausey
