Dr. Walter George Hagenbuch, 98, passed away at home in Dorchester, Mass., on Feb. 24, 2024, surrounded by family.
Born on March 10, 1925, in Nazareth, Pa., to Katie (Bensing) and John Hagenbuch, he was the oldest of six siblings. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Sandra Iger Kohler; their son, Charles and his spouse Jenn Cartee; two grandchildren, Kit and Sam Hagenbuch; his sister, Irene Neel, and many, many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents; his children, David and Kathy Hagenbuch; and his sisters, Marion Fair, Dorothy Hagenbuch, Bernice Butz, and Regina Fritchman.
Walt graduated from Nazareth High School in 1942. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1943, serving during World War II. When he returned home, he used his GI Bill benefits to attend Lehigh University and then pursued a PhD in Education at Temple University with a research focus in physics. His first teaching assignment was in Belvedere, NJ, but he spent most of his professional career in the Colonial School District in Pennsylvania, first at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School and ultimately as the District Science Coordinator. After his retirement, the family moved to Selinsgrove, in 1992, where he filled his time with involvement in his son’s extracurricular activities, gardening, and becoming an incredibly efficient tennis player. In 2006, Walt and Sandra moved to Dorchester to be closer to family.
Over the course of his entire life, Walt delighted in learning new things. He played the baritone horn in several different ensembles, sang as a bass in glee clubs, choirs, and choral societies, and was passionate about marching bands, classical music, and opera. He was an avid and skilled film and digital photographer and woodworker. He loved to cook and delighted in the travel he and Sandra have been able to enjoy together. Always the educator, he never stopped teaching, including years of training volunteers to prepare tax returns for elderly and low income filers, serving as an instructor for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UMass Boston, and in every interaction with his beloved grandchildren. His friendship was treasured by many and he will be dearly missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at First Parish Milton (Unitarian Universalist), 535 Canton Ave., Milton, Mass., where he was a long-standing member. 1