Gerald F. Wagstaff

Wagstaff, Gerald F.

PORT HENRY - Gerald “Jerry” F. Wagstaff, 86, passed away on Friday, May 14, 2021, after a two-year battle with cancer.  Born in Brooklyn on April 2, 1935, he was the son of the late Arnold and Edith Peterson Wagstaff. 

Jerry served in the U.S.  Army Security Agency during the Korean War and was stationed in Japan, where he met his wife, Kazuko. He enjoyed attending military reunions with the Chitose ASA.  After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, he was employed as an electrician with the New York City Transit Authority.  After retiring in 1987, he and his wife moved from Massapequa, Long Island to Port Henry where he purchased and ran Vic’s Restaurant and Motel until 1997 when he fully retired to enjoy life.

Jerry was an avid soccer enthusiast and coached his daughters’ teams in Massapequa for many years, even taking teams to two National Final Four Championship competitions in the 1980’s. He was an inventor, a fixer of everything and everyone’s caretaker. He had a great sense of humor and was full of imagination, even creating new games for family like the spoon game, around-the-world ping pong and grudge darts.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Kazuko (Kay); his three daughters and their spouses: Kathleen Wagstaff and Mike Blaise; Carol and Eric Adair; Judyann and Matthew Donohue; his cherished grandchildren:  Mayumi Wagstaff-Blaise (affectionately referred to as his favorite “granddaughter”) and her fiancé Pete Gagnon;  Kevin and Collin Adair; and Thomas and Kyle Donohue; his sister June Rutigliano; his cousin Marjorie Ross; best friend Donald Ross; and many nieces and nephews.  Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Viola Kipling; and brothers, Thomas, Arnold, LeRoy Richard, Lawrence and William.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family at the Harland Funeral Home, 4279 South Main Street, Port Henry, on Sunday, May 23, from 5 to 7 p.m.  Burial with full military honors will be in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY on May 24, with the procession beginning at 12 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jerry’s name to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250.