William H. Wagner, age 80 of Oceanport, NJ entered eternal peace on March 11, 2023. Bill was born on May 11, 1942, in Teaneck, NJ at Holy Name Hospital. He passed at Riverview Medical Center after a painful battle with lung complications due to cancer, with an attempt at further cancer treatment, which utilizes a chest port.
He was the son of the late Harry D. and Veronica (nee Mullady) Wagner of Nyack NY. Bill resided in Ridgewood, NJ from 1969 to 1980 and again from 1989 to 1999, Stockbridge, MA from 1980 to 1989, Boonton, NJ from 2004 to 2007, Denville, NJ, from 2007 to 2012 and most recently Oceanport, NJ for the last 11 years.
Bill was a graduate of Nyack High School and Saint Francis College in Loretto, PA. He married young and was a devoted father.
Bill started his career in textiles with Louis Hornick & Co in NYC as an order picker but soon advanced and moved into management. Known for his hard work, drive and innovation, he held ever-more senior positions in the home fashion and furnishings industry, reaching the pinnacle of his career at Country Curtains in 1980 where he was General Manager during a period of significant growth and change. Thereafter he held executive roles at recognizable textile brands such Waverly, F. Schumacher, and Arthur Sanderson LLC where he helped decorate several rooms of the White House. His final executive roles included working for La Jobi and Munire’- Echelon, baby furniture companies where he helped to develop and market several notable design lines.
He remarried in 2008, retired in 2014, and loved gardening, boating, the ocean, golf, stock car racing, biking and dining out. Bill was known for his charm, sense of humor and easy way with people.
Bill is predeceased by his brother Fred Wagner, of Vermont, and his sister Judith Boccalini, of Massachusetts.
Bill leaves his loving memories to be cherished by his wife, Lara K. Wagner; his son and daughter-in-law, Sean & Jennifer of Yardley, PA; his daughter and son-in-law, Amy & Michael Reilly of North Hampton, NH; his son and daughter-in-law William Jr & Nicole Wagner of Johns Creek, GA; his son and daughter-in-law Timothy Sr & Michelle Wagner of Hingham, MA; along with the love and fondness towards him by his nine grandchildren, Emma Sawyer and John Wagner; Charlotte, Patrick and Andrew Reilly; and Timothy Jr, Elizabeth, Liam and Caeli Wagner.
In lieu of sending flowers, donations can be made instead to: Anthony Bleyer MD, Inherited Kidney Disease Research Fund, c/o Section on Nephrology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, in the form of a check. Or, alternatively, Cancer Research.
Donations of flowers are lovely, but flowers die. Please consider doing good and helping a cherished living human being instead. Thank you.
Was saddened to receive the news of Mr. Wagner’s passing (same story as above on calling him Bill!). I will miss that smile that I think in early days of my friendship with Tim was one dished out in response to our teen and college antics. Over time, it was clearly a smile of pride as he spoke to or talked about his kids and grandkids. Our thoughts and love to Wagners.
We sure had many laughs and some great times. It brings comfort to know that you are in the arms of Jesus, without constant pain and suffering. Lara was a very devoted wife. I’m glad she was there to comfort and take care of you. I’m sure you will be doing some great design work for our father in heaven. Until we meet again, rest in peace, dear friend.
I was so saddened to learn of Mr. Wagner’s passing. I have so many fond memories of him, from growing up with Sean in Ridgewood, to may many Christmas break trips to Stockbridge in High School! He made so many kind comments to social media posts about my family and always insisted I call him Bill! I always responded that he would always be Mr. Wagner to me! Much love to all the Wagner Clan!
Don Sinton
Go with God, Bill. Your pain is over. Your siblings await you. You fought the good fight and now it’s time for peace and mercy. God Bless.