Heiner Erich Wahl

Heiner Erich Wahl of Easton passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at Easton Memorial Hospital. He was 87 years old. He was born in Neuwied, Germany, a small city along the Rhine, where he spent his childhood. After working in Frankfurt, Germany and briefly living in Canada, he emigrated to the US in 1962 and settled briefly in New Jersey and then in New York City. His lucky year was 1967 when he married his chess partner’s sister (and upstairs neighbor) and began his career with Potash Import and Chemical Company as Vice President handling logistics where he remained until his retirement. During his 42 years living and working in Manhattan, Heiner and a few neighbors in the West Village organized a volunteer recycling program. Every Saturday morning, after collecting recyclables from cooperating buildings, Heiner would drive a rental truck to New Jersey. The money received for the recycled material was used to plant trees along the streets of the Village. When New York City initiated its recycling program some years later, the neighborhood group was recognized by the city for its grass-roots efforts. He loved living in the Village and was a volunteer for the Landmarks Commission, working to preserve historic Greenwich Village buildings that were outside the designated Historic District. Heiner was kind, caring and a man of many passions. He especially enjoyed Classical Music and had a collection of 600+ classical record albums, filed by the birthdate of the composer. He loved Opera, Ballet, fine dining and walking the streets of the city. He followed European Soccer (Fussball), Formula 1 racing and loved cats and collecting UN and German stamps. A highlight of his week was bicycling along the Hudson River with his brother-in-law, John, on Sunday mornings, stopping in Tribeca for brunch. A couple of years after his retirement, he and his wife, Nina, decided it was time for a complete change and they envisioned a small historic, charming town with a cultural life. Having been to Easton briefly in the past, they visited and immediately knew it was the perfect town for them. Here they enjoyed the restaurants, Film Society, Chamber Music Festival, Trivia at Coffee East, Chez LaFitte and, of course, the Avalon and its many offerings. Heiner was pre-deceased by his brother, Arno Wahl, his sister Christine (Wahl) Ruetzel and his brother-in-law, John Quinn. Heiner is survived by his wife, Nina Quinn Wahl, his brother-in-law Herbert Ruetzel, Chesapeake VA, sister-in-law Jieping Liu and nephew, Gordon of New York City. He was especially close to his niece and nephew and their families: Karin Ruetzel Burt and husband Antony of Evanston, IL, grandnieces Lara (Gaurav)of Falls Church, VA, Christina in Chicago and grandnephew, Alexander in Idaho. He was also especially close to his nephew Craig Ruetzel and his wife Julia in Chesapeake, VA and grandnephews, Andrew and Douglas of Virginia. He was fortunate to recently meet the newest addition to his family Adelie, daughter of Lara and Gaurav Bhatnager at the age of 6 months old. He lived a rich full life until his second stroke in 2013 and even after that, he enjoyed a quiet, if limited life with an amazingly positive attitude. He and Nina marked their 57th Anniversary on February 16th. There will be no service, only a private family gathering at a later time. Arrangements for cremation are by Fellows Helfenbein & Newnam in Easton. If so inclined, donations may be made in his name to The Avalon Foundation, the Chamber Music Society, the Talbot Humane Society or a charity of their choice.

Heiner Erich Wahl

October 30, 1936 - February 25, 2024