More detail on this person: Patrick J.
Wingerter, 67, of Hammond, Louisiana passed
away peacefully at home on April 12, 2014. Pat was
born May 3rd, 1946, in Jamaica (Queens) New York
and was reared in West Islip, New York. Pat served
two tours of duty in the United States Army as a
helicopter pilot in Vietnam, was awarded numerous
military honors including a Purple Heart, and
attained the rank of Captain. Pat moved to New
Orleans in 1975 to become Vice President of
Operations for the Delta Queen Steamboat
Company, where he met his future wife, Denise. He
and Denise owned and operated several True Brew
Coffee locations in New Orleans. After Katrina,
Pat taught computer science and robotics at
Remington College in Baton Rouge. Pat's favorite
passion was as a volunteer diver at the Aquarium
of the Americas. As one of the original dive team
members, he was on the underwater development
team and held the position of dive control
officer. Pat enjoyed tending to his bamboo forest,
refurbishing old cappuccino machines and was an
expert on teas from all over the world. He was an
avid reader, railroad and steampunk enthusiast and
Harry Potter fan. He enjoyed studying robotics,
architectural drafting and was a self-taught
practitioner in more topics than can be named. Pat
had many friends, loved his pets and touched many
lives. He will be sorely missed. Pat was
predeceased by his parents John and Jeanette
Wingerter and a brother, Dennis Wingerter. He is
survived by his wife of 37 years, Denise Austin
(Neese), who resides in Hammond, his three
children Sean Wingerter, Kim (Tommy) Aquilino,
and Katie (Terry) Eberhardt and five grandchildren
Sean, Jamie, Daniel, Jack and Patrick, all of New
York. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that
donations be made to the Wounded Warrior
Project. A celebration of his life will be
announced at a future date. Interment will be at
Calverton National Cemetery.
Published in The Times-Picayune from Apr. 22 to
Apr. 23, 2014
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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