Hugh Knapp Wachter

Memorial for Hugh K. Wachter, '68
May 29, 1946-July 21,2024
Forever Tiger'68
Hugh Wachter died peacefully of natural causes on July 21, 2024 in Hagerstown, MD
having successfully fought off cancer for the past few years.
Hugh grew up in Hagerstown, eventually attending Episcopal High School in Alexandria,
VA where he was active in football, track and Student Government. At Princeton, he
served as head manager of the Express-Reunion Agency, Social Chairman of
Princeton's Charter Dining Club (managing to pull off some events that remain
legendary to this day) and was the manager of the US 4 Rock band, a staple at many
Princeton events and subsequent class reunions. Members of that band remained
lifetime friends, a tribute to Hugh's loyalty and passion for understanding and
maintaining friendships. This passion would eventually become the foundation for his
future work. At Princeton, he majored in Politics, eventually graduating with honors in
1968. His graduation followed that of his father, F. C. Wachter, '32.
Upon leaving Princeton, Hugh became a successful newspaper editor in the early days
of Gannett publishing. Hugh was part of the staff built up by Westchester Rockland
Newspapers to launch its first Sunday editions in 1976. He eventually became the
second editor of the initial Sunday magazine. That was upgraded in 1980 and renamed
Suburbia Today. He was an inaugural editor of Suburbia Today, the full-color Sunday
magazine published in many newspapers during the 1980s. In 1982, Hugh moved to
Washington DC and became one of the early staff members of USA Today, assigned to
edit longer, more analytical stories that often ran on the iconic Page One.
In 1992, when Hugh's Princeton Class of '68 Alumni Council needed an editor for its
25th Reunion Yearbook, all eyes turned to Hugh. The rest as they say is history. That
yearbook success jump started a new business for Hugh, Reunion Press. It was in the
early days of personal computer desktop publishing and Hugh used his previous
experience as a newspaper man to develop processes and strategies for creating a
modern product. The company went on to become the premier publishing arm for over
300 university and prep school yearbooks.
Hugh was an innovator who had an eye for pleasing page layout and photograph
enhancement. He also went on to form another company, Reunion Technologies,
bringing digital and internet technology to the reunion book publishing business.
Part of Hugh's appeal to his clients was how he understood the business of reunions so
well. He was an active volunteer for his own Princeton and Episcopal High School
reunions, as well as a reliable attender. Hugh enjoyed the fellowship of his classmates
and stayed highly connected to many of them all his life.
Hugh was born on May 29, 1946, the second son of Julia and Frank Wachter, in
Hagerstown, MD. Frank and "Boots" as everyone knew Hugh's Mom were active
members of the Hagerstown community as was Hugh, who in the last 20 years of his
life would return to his hometown to navigate his successful publishing and internet
activities.
To be in Hugh's large circle of friends was a privilege. Hugh could be counted on to
make sure you stayed in contact, often piloting one of his beloved Volvo wagons to visit
for a day or the weekend. House gifts were almost always books and the conversations
were always lively. Hugh was well-read and always-reading. He would pepper any
discussion with keen observations, usually served with dry wit.
Perhaps Hugh's biggest weakness was his joy of collecting. His basement was full of
die-cast model automobiles, the dining room showed off a collection of wild
sculpturesque English teapots, Hagerstown Statton Furniture was tracked down from
around the country and featured in every room of the house. Books were everywhere,
often in multiple copies so he could pass one on to the right recipient. He spent hours
most evenings scouring eBay.
Hugh is survived by his older brother, Ted, a number of cousins and the many friends
and clients who will remember him dearly. His passing was reported by lifetime friends,
partners, and fellow Princetonians John Storyk, and John Bruestle). Both of us relish in
his very words taken out of that iconic 25th Princeton Class Reunion Book. We quote
"Along the way I have learned that, for me, big is not good and small is; that
politics, though necessary, is ultimately a waste of time; that committees never
achieve the results a committed individual can; that startups and turnarounds
are perhaps the truest test of business skills - and certainly the most enjoyable;
and that feeding my hunger for challenge is more important than conservatively
notching a double-digit stay in one setting."
If wanting to make a donation in Hugh Wachter's name please consider giving to your
local Hospice organization.
A memorial service will take place at the family cemetery plot in Salisbury, MD - details
to follow.
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