The Syracuse community can’t make up for what it’s lost with the passing of one of its consummate volunteers, Dr. Harold Wanamaker, said his colleague, Dr. Paul Kronenberg. “What the community hopes is that there will be other people who will take that example of his passion for the programs that he did get involved with and supported and...
View full sizeBarbara and Harold Wanamaker were presented with The Post Standard "Person of Achievement" Awards in 2002.The Syracuse community can’t make up for what it’s lost with the passing of one of its consummate volunteers, Dr. Harold Wanamaker, said his colleague, Dr. Paul Kronenberg.
“What the community hopes is that there will be other people who will take that example of his passion for the programs that he did get involved with and supported and try to copy it,” Crouse Hospital President Kronenberg said Tuesday, two days after Wanamaker’s death at age 80.
Wanamaker, an ear, nose and throat specialist and a town of Manlius resident, was the patriarch of a family recognized locally for contributions to medicine and lauded for its charitable work.
The list of not-for-profit organizations that Wanamaker served as a board member, fund raiser or both ranged from the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra to the Syracuse Community Health Center Foundation. The Dunbar Association, Habitat for Humanity and the Fayetteville Free Library were among many others in which Wanamaker, often with his wife, Barbara, took a hand.
The Post-Standard recognized the Wanamakers in 2002 with its Achievement Award. Four years later, Catholic Charities honored the Wanamakers and their sons, Dr. Hayes Wanamaker and Dr. John Wanamaker, with its Humanitarian Services Medallion.
Friends remembered him for Tuesday for the sparkle in his eye and the depth of his commitment.
“A phenomenal individual,” said Sharon Jack-Williams, executive director of the Dunbar Association, an African American settlement house. “He embraced Dunbar and what Dunbar’s mission was. He was very passionate about the work that we did. He was able to transcend racial lines, transcend the fact that it was an ethnic agency, and really look at the historical overview of the organization and the good that it did, not just for African Americans in Syracuse, but for the city of Syracuse — to add to the richness of Syracuse itself.”
The responsibility of serving as community trustees gets passed from generation to generation, said Charlotte “Chuckie” Holstein, executive director of F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse. Wanamaker was “an exemplary civic trustee,” she said.
Wanamaker is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons Hayes, John and Bruce Wanamaker, daughter Ann Wanamaker Campbell and their spouses; sisters Jean Wanamaker O’Brien and Nancy Wanamaker Long; and 11 grandchildren .
Services are 3 p.m. Sunday in DeWitt Community Church. Calling hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the church, 3600 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Fairchild & Meech DeWitt Chapel has the arrangements. Read the obituary for Dr. Harold Wanamaker.
Contact John Mariani at jmariani@syracuse.com or 470-3105.