Richard Wiese

1929 - 2021
On the evening of September 18, 2021, Richard ("Rick") Wiese passed away peacefully at 91. He is survived by his wife Marie of 68 years, daughters Kimberly Lanza and Diane Narr, son Richard Wiese, grandchildren Robert Smith, Michael Smith, Valerie Narr, Jonathan Narr, Sabrina Wiese, Alex Wiese, Ricky Wiese, and great-grandson Landon Smith.

He was born in 1929 to German immigrants, and he served in the Marines and Air Force during the Korean War. He joined Pan Am as a Flight Navigator in 1953, and was promoted as Pilot soon after, and eventually became a Captain. In 1959, while moonlighting from his job at Pan Am, ferrying small planes to Australia, he unknowingly became the first person to solo the Pacific Ocean. The NY Times dubbed him "The Lone Eagle of the Pacific," and a commemorative portrait hangs in the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island. It was always a point of pride for our family when we flew that Captain Rick, a 747 Captain was flying the plane. Despite all his achievements and travels, he was a remarkably understated gentleman.

We will remember him, most of all, as a good father, a loving and loyal husband, and an American success story. He was truly decent, unselfish, and responsible, not only as a family man but also as a citizen. He was "The Right Stuff." In respect of his wishes, his ashes will be spread in a private family ceremony over Stony Brook Harbor, where he resided for almost 60 years. In place of flowers, his family would request donations to his favorite charity, Doctors Without Borders.