Arthur William "Art" Wenzel III

AUBURN - Impresario Art Wenzel, 58, of 23 Westlake Avenue, formerly of Port Byron, transitioned to his next life peacefully in the comfort of his own home after a courageous battle with cancer on May 26, 2016.
There will be no calling hours. There will be a memorial service at 10 a.m. with military honors at First Presbyterian Church on South Street, Auburn with the Rev. Eileen Winter and Rev. James Enright officiating on Saturday (June 11, 2016).
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice in Art's name or to the following organizations: Hospice of the Fingerlakes, 1130 Corporate Drive, Auburn, N.Y.; Operation Enduring Gratitude c/o Knights of Columbus, 27 Market Street, Auburn, N.Y.; Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675/or online; Special Olympics, ATTN: Web Gifts, 1133 19th Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20036/or online.
He was born December 27, 1957. The son of Arthur W. Wenzel Jr. and the late Cynthia J. Cheeley, formerly of Port Byron, N.Y., at Auburn Memorial Hospital. There is no denying that Art lived a full life with exuberance and a zest for fun, laughter and love of music. His accomplishments were many as he enjoyed traveling, meeting people and making the best out of life. Art was a Class of 1976 Port Byron graduate where he served as class president and was a letterman on three championship football and baseball teams. After graduating, he enlisted and served proudly in the US Marine Corps and was stationed in Marine Baracks, Hawaii, and MAG 39 at Camp Pendel ton, Calif. While serving in Hawaii, he worked part-time for JFL (John Leonard) Concerts and delivered SunBums weekly entertainment magazine. His production work with JFL included the first ever concert on July 4, 1977, featuring Styx inside Diamond Head crater. While serving, he coached the Lualualei marine softball team to four championships and a Navy and Marine league in two years and was the first military team to play in the Honolulu city-wide league. He found time to study business part-time at Hawaii Pacific College. Upon his transfer to Cali fornia, he continued his musical production work with Frankie Avalon Attractions and studied theater part-time at Mira Costa College. Art returned to Central N.Y. where he began promoting concerts, coordinating talents for venues, acting as a roadie and lighting director for several area bands as well as managing several acts. He participated with the Weedsport Community Theater and Auburn Players. Art presented many shows including producing "Limelight in the Dark" television series and was an integral part of bringing new sounds such as SKA and Reggae to the area. He was instrumental in coordinating talent for Music on the Mall, Hoopes Park, Emerson Park, Falcon Park and more. He also coordinated entertainment for the Cayuga County Fair in Weedsport for several years where he also participated and won a heat in the popular demolition derby. In doing so, he found a niche as a humorous and stand-up comic presenting opening and emceeing for comedians such as the late Pat Paulsen, Wanda Sykes, John (Dr. Dirty) Valby, Mary Anne Nichols, Sky Sands, Paul Mecurio, Artie Fletcher, Tom Anzalone and many others as well as appearing on Cinemax's comedy challenge. Art always had a pension for doing fun things and differently as attested by his character and wardrobe! He even did a stint as a mascot Cayuga Crow for the Auburn Astros where he was also a marketing/ account executive. He served in that capacity for WLKA radio, Advanced Marketing, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Syra cuse Newtimes, among others. He created author's exposed reading and book sale series at Willard Memorial Chapel, poetry reading at Yester year's Café and was instrumental in bringing back the all-American soap box derby to Auburn after a 25-year hiatus. Art was quite popular on the local club scene as a conflict resolutionist (bouncer) at Spirits Café, Morris' Grill and Curley's Restau rant where he DJ also and served as a DJ for many private parties and weddings. Once he returned from serving his country proudly, he jumped into Toys for Tots benefit and became an organizer of many functions for charitable organizations and individuals in their time of need. He assisted raising funds for such organizations as American Cancer Society, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Muscular Dystro phy, American Heart Association and many others. Helping to raise more than 1.5 million in the past 30 years! Art enjoyed playing and coaching softball for many area teams, was a fan of the Oakland Raiders, Clint Eastwood, March Madness, is a fan of NASCAR'S Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman, College Football, Scrabble, Bonnie Raitt and Pumpkin Pie! Art was a prolific writer as attested by his press releases for his productions. He was a tour publicist for such acts as The King Snakes, John Lee Hooker, and British Blues Band, Savoy Brown during their 20th Anniversary North American tour. With that said, the Citizen hired him on as a free-lance writer and later became a Features Editor and an Award-Winning Colum nist. He contributed to the Arts/Leisure section of the Ithaca Journal, a featured Column "Waltzing with Wenzel" in The Record and articles in Point Blank, Syracuse NewTimes, and Blues Connection. He also published a short-lived monthly music magazine called HullaBaloo Times. While still at The Citizen, Art made regular, weekly appearances on WAUB's Ed Lauckern "Live" radio broadcast bringing in special musical guests prior to cohosting his own popular daily radio talk show with Mike Smith, "Smith and Wenzel" on the same station. After departing The Citizen, Art did research at the Cayuga County Historian's office following his passion for the love of history. Art's zest for life, laughter, love and music is unmatched! His greatest gift was wearing his heart on his sleeve and giving to others. Art was also known as a political gadfly during his many unsuccessful runs for public office. He was outspoken on many topics and actually appeared on ballots for Auburn City Mayor, Cayuga County Legislator and Auburn School Board. He still gets called by many "Mayor or Governor." His write-in campaigns for US Senate and State Senate were also unsuccessful. Art's hobbies include history, photography, and music. Earlier this year, Art was the beneficiary of the fund-raising effort Art's Inhale Music Festival which featured more than 60 musicians in his honor on March 12th which was designated "Art Wenzel Day." Prior to that, on February 12th, Elks Lodge #474 honored him with a Distinguished Citizen of the Year award. Art continued up to his death posting updates on concert announcements on his Facebook page and updated his music calendar website at www.cnylimelight.com.
Art is survived by his father Bill; two brothers, Elbridge and Jonathan, all of Hillsdale, Michigan; a sister, Michele (Steven) Peck of Oneida, N.Y.; and sister Pamela (Reid) Allred; two nieces, Abigail and Grace Allred of Hillsborough, N.C.; and several aunts; uncles and cousins galore along with many outstanding friends.
He is predeceased by his mother, Cynthia J (Cheeley) in 2003; his maternal grandparents, Elbridge "Irish" and L. Josephine Cheeley and his paternal grandparents Arthur and Marie Wenzel.
Art sends a special thanks out to his "rock" star caregivers Robin Munn and Becky Nicandri and to Hospice of the FingerLakes.
Arrangements made by Audioun Funeral Home, Main Street, Port Byron, N.Y.