In Memoriam: Longtime Fair Havenite Wolfgang Schlosser, 88

Longtime Fair Havenite, Wolfgang Schlosser, passed away at his Fair Haven home on March 3 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 88.

Wolfgang was born in Bingen am Rhein, Germany. He studied Electrical Engineering at the Technische Hochschule Darmstadt and met Charlotte during his post-graduate studies. After a brief courtship, they married and moved first to Braunschweig, Germany to teach at the Technical University there.

In 1966 he received an offer to work in Murray Hill at Bell Laboratories as a member of the technical staff. Wolfgang and Charlotte packed their belongings and VW Bug into a shipping container and moved to the U.S., settling first in Basking Ridge. His work over the next 20 years included research and development in the fields of lasers, microwave applications and power supply technology which included numerous publications and five patents. Over those years, Ma Bell was divided up into the Baby Bells.

“Wolfgang loved planning family vacations, photographing family, flora and fauna along the way. (And of course the requisite slide shows afterwards.) He was handy at home, building cabinetry, installing sprinklers in Charlotte’s garden and teaching Dorothea to clean spark plugs.

“In 1988, his division was transferred to Dallas, and he chose to transfer to the Holmdel lab. There he was worked on fiber optic cables where he was part of the repeater division. The family relocated to Fair Haven where they enjoyed living close to the shore.

“After his retirement, Wolfgang and Charlotte travelled all over the world. Destinations included Patagonia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Turkey and China. In Wolfgang’s newfound time, he was a doting grandfather, volunteered at HABcore in Red Bank on their Advisory Board, and assisted with programming for the Red Bank Chamber Music Society.

“We are especially grateful to Corina and Fidel who were unfailingly patient and loving caring for him in his final years. Wolfgang was able to spend the last years in his own home, surrounded by his books, his music and Charlotte’s garden.”
Loved ones of Wolfgang Schlosser in his obituary

Wolfgang is survived by: his daughter, Dorothea and son-in-law Tom; grandchildren, Anika and Thaddeus; and brother, Achim.

He is predeceased by: his wife, Charlotte; and son, Michael.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 16, at 11:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County, 1475 West Front St., Lincroft. There will be a concert and remembrances followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers please make a gift in his name to the Red Bank Chamber Music Society or HABcore in Red Bank.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home