Eric Wolfgang Niedert

Eric Wolfgang Niedert of Austin, TX, passed away unexpectedly on August 30, 2024. Born on May 27, 1976, in Mount Prospect, Illinois, Wolfgang was a treasured son, spouse, father, brother, and friend, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Wolfgang was celebrated for his sharp wit, sense of humor, intelligence, charisma, and larger-than-life personality. He had a deep passion for music, nature, education, philanthropy, volunteering, baseball, and anything related to the University of Texas. However, none of these interests compared to his greatest love: his cherished family. Wolfgang is survived by his wife, Julie (Zimmerman); his two daughters, Sophie Lucinda and Olivia Rose; and his mother, Rosalinda; sisters Stephanie (David) Salkin, Christine Strand; brother Donald Wagner; and his nephew Jack Salkin and nieces Grace and Emma Wagner. Wolfgang was preceded in death by his father, Ralph; his grandparents from both the Farias and Niedert families; Aunts Vilma, Elva, and Grace; Uncles Fred, Joe, and Rich; and cousins Stevie, Gloria, Laura, and Joey, all now in the embrace of our Heavenly Father.

Wolfgang moved from Chicago to Texas prior to his senior year of high school. In 2000, he met and fell in love with his wife, Julie. Wolfgang attended the University of Texas, where he earned his Bachelor's degree and later completed the Certified Financial Planner program. Despite finishing his formal education years ago, Wolfgang's connection to the campus never wavered. He had a deep affection for both Austin and the University of Texas and remained committed to giving back to them throughout his life. If you were visiting from out of town, Wolfgang undoubtedly extended a warm invitation to explore Austin. His tours were meticulously planned, showcasing the city's highlights and his favorite spots. Guests could expect a well-curated experience filled with guided tours and memorable meals, all orchestrated with his signature enthusiasm.

Wolfgang frequently said that he was not great at anything, but really good at a lot of things. His career was marked by a diverse and impactful range of experiences. Specializing in private equity, Wolfgang focused on real estate, energy, and technology sectors. Although his work encompassed tasks such as raising capital, managing deal flow, conducting due diligence, and structuring funds, his true talent shone in forging strategic partnerships, managing operating group relationships, and handling investor and government relations. Wolfgang also took great pride in his role as an Adjunct Guest Lecturer at the University of Texas, where he taught upper-division courses in Entrepreneurial Finance at the McCombs School of Business. His leadership and strategic vision left a profound and lasting impact on the industries he was passionate about.

Wolfgang's civic engagement and leadership were unparalleled. Among his many contributions, Wolfgang served on several key committees and boards, including Commissioner for the City of Austin Bond Oversight Commission, Economic Development Council of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Council at the Real Estate Finance & Investment Center at McCombs School of Business, Envision Eanes Committee, Eanes Long-Range Facility Planning Committee. He was also involved with the Texas Book Festival as a member of the Board of Directors/Advisory Council, the Chancellor's Council Executive Committee for the University of Texas System, the Texas-Exes Foundation Investment Committee, and the Texas-Exes Public Affairs Committee/UT Advocates for Higher Education. Additionally, Wolfgang served as the Past President of the 1883 Council for the Texas-Exes Forty Acres Society and was active with the Texas-Exes Hispanic Alumni Steering Committee.

Wolfgang was a founding advisory council member for the Subiendo Academy for Rising Leaders, and he contributed to the UT Butler School of Music's Director's Council, the Blanton Museum of Art's Director's Council, and the LBJ School of Public Affairs' Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security & Law as an inaugural fellow. His involvement extended to the Next Generation Project Texas, the LBJ Library Future Forum, the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education as a founding member, the Aguila Alliance as a founding chairman, ClubCorp as a board member, and the Long Center for the Performing Arts as a trustee.

While he contributed greatly to many organizations, Wolfgang's greatest joy came from serving his daughter's school. He was deeply involved in the district's committees and relished volunteering at the elementary school. Whether it was holding a stop sign during morning drop-offs or being among the first to sign up for fall carnivals and field day setups, his enthusiasm and commitment were evident. Wolfgang brought joy, laughter, and invaluable input to every role he undertook and was deeply loved by the community he served.

Throughout his life, Wolfgang left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Those who knew him were well aware of his remarkable ability to infuse humor into any situation. His command of the written word was both precise and poetic, expressing his thoughts with eloquence and depth. Insightful and inspiring, Wolfgang had a talent for turning ordinary moments into profound reflections, capturing the subtleties of life with extraordinary skill.

I leave you with one last reflection. Below is an excerpt from a letter Wolfgang wrote to his daughters in 2019:

I need to play outside with you more, take you fishing, practice camping in the backyard, teach you chess, sing more songs, pull pranks on mommy, have more cocoa, cook more meals together, hold your sister together, work on letters, call more family, build more things, talk to more birds, stomp in more puddles, visit more parks and theaters, squeeze more stuffed animals, host more pretend birthday parties, listen to more music, help more people, and so much more. One thing I do not have to try is instill in you more confidence to tackle this world. Because it is all over your soul, all baked into your bones. All I can hope to do is serve as your loyal supporter. You will chart a course I cannot even imagine. And it seems clear that you will do it with integrity and help people along the way. There are people, and understandably so, who will regard this as too much pressure on you. Do not concern yourself with the timid. A life of expedition is a difficult construct for those that never had the vision to lose sight of the shore. You and your sister will traverse a world I cannot fathom. Just know, your mother and I support you both and wish you all the best. You really are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know. Take care of one another and keep your faith. All these worlds are yours. Who knows what they hold for the Niedert girls, but I very much like your chances.

The world is over-crowded with followers. Don't follow the beaten path. Go where others have not...and leave a trail.

Endearing Love,

Dad

To honor his lifelong dedication to education and philanthropy, we ask that memorial contributions be made to a college fund for his beloved daughters, Sophie (9) and Oliva (5). https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-wolfgangdonate-to-sophie-olivias-college-fund