Hans E. Wendt

1934 - 2013

BORN

1934

DIED

2013

Hans Wendt Obituary

Wendt, Hans E. DEL MAR -- Hans E. Wendt, 79, a longtime resident of Del Mar, passed away on Saturday, August 3, 2013. Hans was born in Chicago on February 3, 1934. He graduated Williams Bay High School (Wisconsin) in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army 1954 - 56. He graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography in 1959. He then worked for famed Hollywood photographers Alex de Paola and Glenn Embree. He worked as Chief Photographer fo S.D. County from 1970 to 1988. His real fame lies in his skill and quick actions for taking the only photo of the PSA 727 horrific crash in North Park in 1978. Hans is survived by his wife V. Elaine Porter-Wendt, stepdaughters Jillian Pillsbury (Skinner) and June Honsberger (Skinner), and three grandchildren Maya Pillsbury and Milo and Wyatt Honsberger. Celebration of life will be in the fall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Diabetes Foundation.

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Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Aug. 18, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Hans Wendt

8 Entries

Lynn Eldred

September 24, 2018

I was privileged to know Hans many years while working at the County. He and his pal Johnnie were warm, funny, and so generous with their guidance to a me who was a novice in public relations. Hans was a humble man. I knew him for years before someone else told me that he'd captured an historic moment and had been a contender for the Pulitzer. Bless you, Hans.

Joyce and Carole Dixon 2015

Joyce Dixon

April 17, 2016

I knew Hans in the early 1960's. My sister and I rented the back portion of the house he and David Chan lived in, on Fruitland Dr., N. Hwyd. We all became good friends for many years. I last saw Hans about 3 years ago. So very sorry to hear of his passing.

Ernie Umemoto

September 9, 2013

Always a good friend. From our first meeting in Santa Barbara in about 1960 at Oz's on Oak Road I knew Hans was agreat guy, pleasant to be around, worked in Hollywood, drove an MG-TF and later an MG-A, got me my first job out of Brooks. I lived for a while Hans (and David Chan) in North Hollywood. After I moved back to San Jose, we kept in touch. He came up for races at Laguna Seca. I went down for New Year's Eve. He became the county photographer in San Diego. He made road trips north every few years to visit and we met at Brooks Alumni Association meetings in Santa Barbara and at conventions (once in San Diego). He came to my wedding in 1975 and we continued to visit back and forth. Sharon and I moved in 2003 to Seattle. He drove up here four or five time until 2011. On that last trip we took him to visit Coupeville on Whidbey Island, just north of us, where he had at one time hoped to retire. Our last visit at his home in Del Mar and last good bye was on April 10th last.

Thanks, good friend for fifty plus years of memories, all good.

Tricia Craven Worley

August 27, 2013

Dear Mrs. Wendt,
I was saddened to read of your husband's recent death. My family sends our warmest condolences to you.
My father, the late Sen. William A. Craven knew your husband from the time he was still a SD County Supervisor. He shot many photos of my parents, which they loved. When it was my parent's 50th anniversary, I asked him to shoot a photo of my brothers, my husband, sister-in-law and me, he did. It was a secret gift, so we had to work it out "just so" at my parent's home. It is a photo we treasure.
Of course we all remember his epic photo of the PSA jet.
He gave more to San Diego than people will ever realize.
Thank you for sharing him with all of us. Sincerely, Tricia Craven Worley

Howard Britton

August 20, 2013

Hans & I were friends going back to our days at Brooks. We manage to keep in contact for over 50 years.Both of us were products of the Photography Industry and retired when Digital Imaging came of age. Keep that shutter cocked and be ready for your next big picture/image. Good night old friend.
Howard

Alice and Armando Rodriguez

August 19, 2013

Dear Elaine and Family,
We remember so many fun times with Hans and all of you at your beautiful home. We loved talking to Hans. He was such a smart and good man. We know that you will miss him very much, but we hope your happy memories of him will sustain you now and in the future.
If we can help you in any way, let us know.
Alice and Armando Rodriguez

Susan Traxler Martin

August 19, 2013

I'll never forget the picture of the plane going down over San Diego. What a horrifying moment Mr. Wendt captured. Rest in peace, and my condolences to friends and family.

Tim O'Hara

August 18, 2013

My condolences to the Wendt family. I was 22 years old, and had not reached my first year as a City employee at the time of the crash. The photo and the experience I had at the moment of impact will never leave my memory. Rest in peace, Hans

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