Wolfgang Dieter Gertenbach, born October 10, 1944 in Korbach, Germany, died September 3, 2011 in Boston, MA. Survived by his loving wife Peggy Peckham, and in Germany his 2 daughters Sabine Gertenbach and Andrea Kuprian, his granddaughter Isabel Kuprian, and his brother Hans-Juergen Gertenbach and his daughter ruth-Melanie Gertenbach. His parents Hans-Arthur and Anne Gertrud (nee Bartelmae) Gertenbach precedeased him.
Wolfgang studied Hotel Management, was in the German army, worked for Hilton Hotels in Berlin then for Lufthansa in administration, during which time he obtained an MBA, until moving to the US with his wife in 1981. In the USA he worked for a German owned Real Estate Investment firm, then was active in residential real estate before retiring. He remained active in real estate investment until his death.
Wolfgang was an avid stamp collector, having been a member of various stamp clubs in Germany, the Forschungsgemeinschaft Grossbritannien, the Scandinavian Stamp Club in Manhattan, the Park Slope Stamp Club in Brooklyn NY, and lately the North Kingstown Stamp Club. In addition his was a member of the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History in Weston, MA. Wolfgang trained as a docent at RISD in Providence, RI. Additionally, he was a member with his wife in the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, The MFA in Boston, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Boylston Schul-Verein (German Club) in Walpole MA and the German Aid Society of Boston, s well as the Providence YMCA.
In line with his wishes, that some good would come from his illness, in lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Attn: Development, 330 Brookline Avenue (BR), Boston, MA 02215. Please make checks payable to “BIDMC” and include Wolfgang Gertenbach in the check memo field. Donations will go to the Melanoma Research Fund.