Hubert August Wagner

Hubert August Wagner (1916-1990)

An epitaph of Bert Wagner's life would report that he was a physician, hobbyist and family man. He was devoted fiercely to the practice of medicine and to Philadelphia. He suffered through the sea changes that swept both entities in the latter part of the 20th century. Below I'll try and add context to a life well lived.

A Philadelphian: Bert attended public school in Philadelphia and it served him well. He was an early Temple University graduate, following that by the Philadelphia College of Osteopathy. He worked out of Parkview Hospital in North Philadelphia. He and Virginia sent their children to public school in Philadelphia because they believed in public education. In his later years he browsed the used bookstalls at Reading Terminal Market every day waiting for the train home. He took his family to Willow Grove Park. Over time, the neighborhood where he raised his family slowly became less coiffed and more dangerous. The changes which made Philadelphia less livable as the century progressed were hard on Bert. He loved the city.

An eclectic hobbyist:  Bert collected stamps, coins and antique furniture. He was a talented gardener and woodworker. Dinners that were 100% harvested from his own hand were special occasions. He brewed the best compost in the county! He was a dedicated amateur photographer and took 16mm reels of the family events for years. He loved miniature trains and built a sophisticated train layout displayed during his childrens' youth. He was an enthusiastic music affectionado, especially of opera and the symphony. Every pre-dinner ritual included a "frisky sour" and an lp record selection. He was an athlete in his earlier years and an Eagle Scout. Raised Lutheran, he worked actively with the Y's Men organization (philanthropic arm of the YMCA).

Bert in his garden where he spent countless hours growing fabulous vegetables and flowers

An Osteopathic Physician: Bert was devoted to his profession, working continually until weeks before his death at age 75. He told me how he came to the profession. As an adolescent, he spent summers at his grandmother's camp in the Pocono Mountains. One summer, his father came for a weekend visit, and found Bert not looking well. He complained to his father about vague pain. He was soon diagnosed with the shingles by an osteopathic physician, and manipulative therapy resolved the problem. From that day on, Bert was convinced that not only would he become a physician, but an osteopathic physician.  He never strayed from that goal. He practiced manipulative therapy on a continual basis throughout his career which became increasingly rare due to it physical demands and time requirements in modern medical practice.

Bert was among the last of a breed of sole proprietor physicians. Upon obtaining his license, he put out a shingle in the front room of the family home, and held office hours there for 35 years. Most of his patients were from the neighborhood and walked to the office. Even in 1975 when I first met him, I remember him walking across the backyard with his medical bag to make a house call in the neighborhood.  His fees were surprisingly modest.   Virginia made appointments, worked the books, answered all calls, visited patients in the hospital and assisted Bert with small procedures in the office. Many a time evening dinner (a sacred time) was interrupted by patient calls; getting coverage for vacations and days off got increasingly difficult. The transition to insurance driven/ big practice medicine was not easy on Bert and Virginia. Paperwork and insurance malpractice rates climbed. Bert was resistant to the change. Eventually he gave up the practice and worked for another 10 years as an examining physician for the City of Philadelphia. When  differences between Osteopathic and Medical training programs blurred, Bert was disappointed. He remained philosophically committed to Osteopathy for his entire life.

A family man: During his college days, he met Virginia Stauffer at a church event, decorating the Christmas tree. She approached him as and asked if she could help him. "She has been helping me ever since", he was fond of saying and that was certainly true. They officially became engaged in storybook fashion on Christmas Day 1939 and were married in 1941. Bert and Virginiaraised two children and enjoyed  4 grandchildren whom they loved dearly. Bert and Virginia were a team.

With Virginia early in their courtship

A great shot of the young couple

With Baby Wini

The family in 1958


Another wedding day in 1978

Bert with grandson Nathan in "his chair" in the living room of their home at 6608

Bert with last grandchild Ricky, taken in 1989, the year before Bert's death

I take several  lessons from Bert's life. He had virtues that I find increasingly rare in the 21st century: he found his life's ambition early and never swayed from it;  he had an inquisitive, active mind that spanned many disciplines; he tackled anything he began with vigor and dedication. 

Bert and Virginia on one of several trips to California to see the family

The disappointment in Bert's life was that he died too young. He was devoted to taking care of Virginia in their later years, and was seemingly the healthier of the two until he died quite suddenly of sepsis at 75.  He died just as they approached their 50th wedding anniversary, a good long run but not long enough for either of them. Virginia outlived him by 8 years, but his death took a toll on her that she never really overcame.

Gravestone at George Washington Memorial Park just outside Philadelphia

We remember you, Dad and Grandpa. We'd like to live our lives up to the standards you held for yourself.