Brian E. Winterberg

Brian E. Winterberg, age 74, of Wayne passed peacefully Tuesday, May 28, 2024, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Brian, the son of William Winterberg, was proudly raised in Paterson. He graduated in 1967 from St. Joseph’s High School where he was a well-known prankster and developed a love for writing poetry and prose.

He served during the Vietnam War in the United States Air Force at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida, where he was a fuel specialist. He attained the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged from service. He went on to work a variety of jobs before spending over 25 years selling advertising for newspapers in Northern New Jersey.

Brian met his beloved Petra while they were both working at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. They were married in 1982 at St. Peter’s Church in River Edge, NJ. Together, they set down roots in Wayne. Their son Alexander and his daughter Christine from a previous marriage were the lights of his life.

Brian was a loving husband, devoted father, and new grandfather. His granddaughter Sidney Rose was born in September 2023. In the past 8 months, she brought a smile to Brian’s face every day and gave him a new understanding of love. His time with her was also spent educating her on music, one of the many passions he enjoyed sharing.

A lover of music, he was never happier than when he was at a concert, playing the drums, singing along with his favorite artists, or listening to his abundant music collection. He also had an enthusiasm for cinema and would always have a classic film ready to watch (whether anyone else wanted to or not). This interest passed on to his son Alex, who would not only regularly compare notes on new releases but went on to choose a career path within the movie industry.

Despite claiming to not be a “people person,” Brian always went out of his way to meet new people, cracking jokes along the way just to confirm they had a “sense of humor.” Even if they didn’t, it didn’t take much for him to ingratiate himself and turn a one-off conversation into a lifelong memory. His own sense of humor will continue to live on as his daughter Christine still talks about how his slapstick comedy would entertain her for hours on end when she was a child. He was never afraid to make fun of himself, and was never offended to be the butt of a joke.

Leaving a legacy through his wife Petra, daughter Christine, son Alexander, granddaughter Sidney Rose, father William, sister Helen, son-in-law Clarke, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, Brian’s memory will offer them comfort and his stories will forever remind them of his joie de vivre.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to The Hole In the Wall Gang Camp or The Valley Hospital Foundation, 223 N. Van Dien Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 would be greatly appreciated.