Richard (Dick) Wagner, a local pilot, businessman and philanthropist whose humanitarian efforts left a lasting impact on the Burlington area and touched far corners of the globe, died Sunday of a heart attack at his home in Lyons.
Wagner, 74, and his wife Roberta (Bobbie) are perhaps best known locally as the major contributors to the renovation and expansion of Veterans Terrace at Echo Park, a community and reception center that serves as a working memorial to veterans.
Not only did the couple provide the lead monetary gift for the project that culminated with the facility’s reopening in 2009, they remained active members of the Burlington Community Fund – the philanthropic organization that oversees Veterans Terrace.
Dick Wagner, a Burlington native and graduate of St. Mary’s (now Catholic Central) High School, became the youngest commercial pilot in the state at 18 and went on to a flying career that included 27 years in the airline industry and more than 27,000 hours flying many types of aircraft.
Along with Bobbie, he founded Wag-Aero and built it into a worldwide leader in the manufacture and distribution of replacement parts for out-of-production aircraft.
In 1978, Dick and Bobbie also founded the Wagner Foundation, a non-profit organization, with the purpose of promoting aviation, preservation and humanitarian programs throughout the world.
Through the foundation, they have donated numerous aircraft for medical and humanitarian purposes, particularly in Central America.
In accordance with Dick Wagner’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral or reception. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church, Burlington. Memorials to the Wagner Foundation Ltd. have been suggested.
An expanded story and complete obituary will appear in this week’s print edition of the Burlington Standard Press available on Jan. 6. His online obituary can be found on of obituaries tab of this site.
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