Richard Wagner, veteran, creative soul
Richard “Bucky” Wagner passed away peacefully Saturday, April 20, 2024, from complications following a stroke Easter Sunday.
Bucky is predeceased by his parents, Rudolph and Eleanor (Cauvet) Wagner; and his younger brother, Glenn Wagner.
Bucky was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., March 25, 1937. He moved to Cresskill, N.J., as a boy and attended Tenafly High School. He went on to Syracuse University, where he was a member of the Lamda Chi Alpha fraternity and earned a BFA degree, graduating cum laude in 1958. He also served four years in the National Guard, earning an honorable discharge in 1963.
In 1963, he met his wife, Alice, on a blind date. They married the next year and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary May 17.
They moved to their beloved home in Cedar Grove, N.J., shortly after and raised their two children there, daughter, Amanda; and son, Grant. They built a life there surrounded by dear friends and family for 42 years before retiring to Baywood in Long Neck, in 2010, and were soon surrounded by dear friends and family.
Bucky built a successful career as a textile executive, starting with F. Schumacher & Co., and spending much of his career with Knoll International as vice president and general manager of its textiles division. He co-founded the industry trade organization ACT, which still operates today. He also founded his own company, Contex International, which he operated until retirement.
Though much of his professional success was due to his business acumen, Bucky was a creative soul at heart. He enjoyed painting, building, tinkering, and restoration. He loved golf, history, skiing, antiquing, travel, and politics. Bucky was involved in the Baywood community and served on the board of their townhouse for many years.
Bucky is survived by his loving wife, Alice; his two children, Amanda Eaton of Boonton, N.J., and Grant of Katonah, N.Y., his daughter-in-law, Jill; and his two grandsons, Gavin Wagner and Jack Eaton.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, April 29, at the Long Neck Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 32013 Long Neck Road, Millsboro, where friends and family may visit after 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bucky’s honor to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, t2t.org.
