Rudolph J. Wagner

Elmwood Park - Rudolph J. Wagner, 98, of Elmwood Park, passed away on Wednesday March 31st, 2021. Born in New York City, he's been a resident of Elmwood Park for the past 73 years living in the house he built with his brother Bill. He was a WWII Veteran serving in the United States Coast Guard. Early in his career he worked as a Quality Control specialist for the Manhattan Rubber Company, attending night classes at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Montclair State University where he received AA, BA & MA degrees. He was a teacher of Cooperative Industrial Education and a baseball coach at Elmwood Park High School. In the early 1970's he began employment with the New Jersey Department of Education as a Coordinator of Cooperative Industrial Education retiring in 1984. He was a parishioner of St. Leo's R.C. Church where he directed the CCD Program and served as an usher. He was honored to be inducted into the Elmwood Park Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 fo his many contributions to the community. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 66 years Helen L. (née Rzucidlo) and by six siblings: Mary Porcoro, Veronica Maney, Anna Geisler, William Bajcar, John Wagner and Henry Wagner. He is survived by his loving children Ellen Pikarsky, her husband Robert and Dr Rudolph S . Wagner, his wife Jean. He was the proud grandfather of Robert J Pikarsky (Taryn) , Dawn Gillies (Mark), Katie Lennon (Terry), Elizabeth Peera(Allister), Julie Wagner, and Christine Menke(Trevor). Adoring great grandfather (Poppy)of Katelyn, Jack, & Ryan Gillies, Makayla, Quinn, & Rylie Pikarsky, Mary & Rudy Lennon, Iris Peera, and Baby Girl Menke due in June. He enjoyed attending his grand and great grandchildren 's sporting events and spending summers at his house in Toms River with Helen always wearing his Notre Dame jacket and hat. Poppy never said goodbye. It was always "Take it easy!).

Arrangements by the Patrick J. Conte Funeral Home 274. Market Street, Elmwood Park.

He had a mass of Christian Burial at St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church on April 7,2021.

Funeral services were private.

Donations in his name can be sent to the Elmwood Park Athletic Hall of Fame, Inc. Scholarship Fund. PO Box42, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407

Or to support the Flying Hospital in the fight against blindness, donations can be made to Orbis, 520 8th Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or donations@orbis.org