August 20, 1960 – August 22, 2024
After many years on the water – fishing, of course – John Wanag founded his own fishing rod business. He came to Montauk when he was eleven years old and initially helped out in a fishing rod shop.
“They brought him along as a buddy, brought him to the bar and let him sit at a table and drink a glass of beer. And they went fishing,” recalled his longtime friend Helen McGuire. “Those were the seed days — the first time you experienced Montauk. If you’re a person with the blood type ‘NaCl,’ you understand. Montauk seeds are the only ones that come to life by the constant addition of salt water.”
Mr. Wanag completed a year of college before packing up and moving to Montauk. He initially worked as a commercial fisherman, a job he gave up after a few years when a co-worker died and he considered the work dangerous. “His decision to give up commercial fishing was based on his commitment to his family,” Ms. McGuire wrote.
He then worked as a helmsman on a charter boat and for companies such as Power Equipment Plus, Star Island Yacht Club, Gone Fishing Marina and Restaurant, and Amagansett Building Supply.
With his own business, MTK Custom Rods and Repair, he had earned a “legendary” reputation by “combining functionality and art,” according to his family.
He was also proud of living a sober life for more than 15 years and considered it “one of his greatest achievements,” Ms McGuire said.
“He was not defined by his illness, but once he figured it out, with the tremendous support of his AA family, he was able to truly live a full life as he was meant to,” she wrote.
Mr Wanag, who last lived in Springs, died of cardiac arrest at home last Thursday. He was 64 years old.
John E. Wanag was born on August 20, 1960, in Wilton, Connecticut, to Edward Wanag and the former Mary Kisken. His father died when he was just 8 years old, leaving him “the man of the house,” his family said. He helped his mother care for his younger siblings and also helped out in the family business, a diner in Redding, Connecticut.
His marriage ended in divorce. Ms McGuire had been his “partner in crime” since 2015, she said. They “built a simple life and supported each other through many of life’s complications … and packed a lifetime’s worth of memories into a very short period of time.”
They fished and traveled, enjoyed food and friends. Although he rarely put his feelings into words, Ms. McGuire said, “His actions spoke volumes. Love was in a cup of perfectly brewed coffee prepared and presented with a dandelion. Love was when you lugged the sound system to a gig.”
He will be remembered as a selfless, steadfast, kind and trustworthy person, she wrote.
In addition to Ms. McGuire, Mr. Wanag is survived by a daughter, Melissa Wanag of Brooklyn, and two sons, Timothy Wanag and Evan Wanag, both of Montauk. He is survived by three siblings, all of whom live in Connecticut: Holly Gates and her husband, Michael, Gayle Baker and her husband, Len, and Joe Wanag and his partner, Tracy.
Mr. Wanag was cremated. Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. In lieu of memorial donations, his family has asked friends and loved ones to write letters urging them to activate the Springs Fire Department’s communications tower.
