Army Reserves Veteran, Dana R. "Russ" Wagenfeld Dies at 78
Nardolillo Funeral Home, Inc.
Army Reserves Veteran, Dana R. "Russ" Wagenfeld Dies at 78
He is survived by his wife, Eva Klonowski, MD, daughter Amy Wagenfeld Beizer, son Drew Wagenfeld, and three granddaughters, Hailey, Lyla, and Macy Beizer.
Russ was born and raised in Needham, MA in 1943. He graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, with a degree in history. He went on to receive master's degrees from American University, George Washington University, and the Newport Naval War College.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHe felt strongly about his patriotic duty to his country. While on active duty he served at the Pentagon and then went on to the Army reserves achieving the rank of Major. For the duration of his career, he was employed by the Defense Intelligence agency in Washington DC and Germany where he retired.
His greatest joy was in playing hockey. He grew up skating on ponds and lakes and went on to play with the Bates Hockey club while in college and with various recreational teams in the Washington, DC area. In the last years, he played with the Rhodie Oldies in Smithfield, putting away his hockey stick only about two months prior to his death.
He was active in coaching both hockey and soccer. He especially enjoyed co-coaching the Narragansett Pier School girls soccer team in the early 2000s. He coached multiple hockey and soccer teams, including some his son played on as well as his wife’s women’s hockey group at the University of Rhode Island. He also enjoyed skiing, gardening, doing projects around the house, and rooting for the Bruins. He was an avid reader of history and international relations and loved tracking the weather.
Visiting Hours will be held Friday, January 7, 2022 from 5-7 pm in the Nardolillo Funeral Home & Crematory - South County Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Southern Poverty Law Center or The Treatment Advocacy Center.
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