Obituary: Rolf Wahl

Posted 1/11/23

Rolf Wahl, 89, of Highland Lake, NY, passed away on Friday, January 6, 2023 at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills in Harris, NY. Rolf was born in Queens, NY.

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Obituary: Rolf Wahl

Posted

Rolf Wahl, 89, of Highland Lake, NY, passed away on Friday, January 6, 2023 at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills in Harris, NY. Rolf was born in Queens, NY.

Rolf served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. Rolf was a retired Television Video Engineer in New York City. He worked on many TV shows, including “The Merv Griffin Show” and “Sesame Street.” He filmed Big Bird’s first episode.

Throughout his career, he traveled the world filming live events, including Barbara Streisand’s Central Park concert in 1967, the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other events.

He was a member of St. Jacobi Lutheran Church, Shohola, PA, and Koinonia Camp & Retreat Center in Highland Lake, NY. He was a member of the Highland Seniors.

Rolf and his wife Ruth enjoyed vacationing at Highland Lake since the ‘70s. They made Highland Lake their permanent residence 12 years ago. 

A family statement reads: “Rolf was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather. Almost everyone called him ‘Opa.’ He adored his grandchildren. He enjoyed working on his trains indoors and outdoors. One of his favorite things to do was to show off his outdoor trains to friends and family. He loved swimming and taking boat rides on the lake and his favorite part of the day was 2 p.m. ‘Kaffe und Kuchen’ (coffee and cake). Oma always had something sweet to eat.”

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth (Haizmann) Wahl; son Ralph Wahl of Chestnut Ridge, NY; daughter Susan Vorstadt and her husband Thomas of Highland Lake, NY; two grandchildren Erika Jennings of Barryville, NY, and Peter Vorstadt of Brooklyn, NY; and Rolf’s twin sister Marianne Schruhl of Park Ridge, NJ. 

Services will be private at the convenience of the family. Donations can be made in Rolf’s name to Koinonia Camp, 165 Lake View Dr., Highland Lake, NY 12743, or to St. Jacobi Lutheran Church, 108 Glen Dr., Shohola, PA 18458. 

Arrangements are in the care of the Harrison Rasmussen Funeral Home, 3412 Rte. 97, Barryville, NY 12719, 845/557-8010.

Obituary, Rolf Wahl