Julian "Julie" Wager, affectionately known as "Mr.Steinway Street" passed away this month. (Pic Courtesy: Queens Gazette)
Those who knew Julian “Julie” Wager would agree that Frank Sinatra’s classic tune “My Way” reflected perfectly Wager’s life — a life lived on his own terms. Wager, affectionately dubbed “Mr. Steinway Street” for his involvement in the thoroughfare’s evolution, died Jan. 6. He was 80.
Friends describe Wager as tenacious and always willing to take on big challenges.
“He was an exceptional person, with a great can-do attitude,” said Tony Barsamian, editor of the Queens Gazette, where Wager worked for some time. “The greatest lesson he taught me was that nothing is impossible. If there is an obstacle, there is always a way around it. … He was driven by an inner desire to achieve.”
“If you knew Julie, you would have loved him,” said longtime friend and associate George Stamatiades. “If you didn’t know him, you were at war.”
On Friday, an estimated 300 people packed into the Astoria Center of Israel synagogue to bid final farewell to Wager. Many people at the services didn’t know him personally, but they appreciated his contributions in making Astoria what it is today.
The founder of the Queens Festival in 1979, a 30-year member of Community Board 1 and the founder and president of the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition (CALDC), Wager understood the relationship between community and business.
“If the community does not have a viable business district, then the community will die,” said Stamatiades, executive vice president of CALDC. “And if the business community does not have a thriving community, then the business will die. It’s a partnership. And Julie made sure everyone understood that.”
Stamatiades referred to the parking lot on Steinway Street between Broadway and 31st Avenue as a good example of that understanding. He said Wager recognized that for customers to shop on Steinway Street, it was important to have good streets and better parking.
“He intimidated my father,” recalled Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), whose father, Peter Vallone Sr., served on the Council from 1974 through 2001. Wager reportedly called the former councilmember ten minutes after he had been elected.
“Julie took my dad up and down Steinway Street, saying it didn’t need to be repaved, but redone,” said Vallone. “Thanks to Julie’s tenacity, instead of throwing some asphalt, they went three feet down and made a new road.”
Not just new roads, Wager also brought together business establishments in the area under the common umbrella of the CALDC so businessmen would have a stronger voice and better bargaining power against City authorities.
Wager wasn’t all business, though. He was also instrumental in setting up Central Astoria’s waterfront concert series and movie nights.
“The movies on the waterfront was a big hit,” said Marie Tornielli who worked with Wager at the CALDC. “A couple of thousand people showed up when it was set up.” She added that “when he saw a need for something, he went out and got it.”
The Independence Day fireworks at Astoria Park were also something Wager held close.
“The fireworks show — that’s Julie’s baby,” Vallone said. “When we were told by the mayor’s office that it would not happen, Julie politely suggested I try harder. And that’s when it happened.”
Julie did not know the meaning of “no,” said Stamatiades. “He would wear people down till he got what he wanted, and he wanted the best for the community.”
In 2000, Wager was paralyzed by a spinal cord injury, but that did not slow him down. A native of Astoria, he continued to serve the organizations in his community. He was president of his synagogue, Astoria Center of Israel, and worked as advertising director of the Queens Gazette.
In 2008, The Powhatan and Pocahontas Regular Democratic Clubs honored Wager’s tireless efforts for “this, that and what was the other thing.” State Sen. George Onorato recognized Wager’s leadership with a proclamation which joked that Astoria would have to be renamed “Wagerville” if Wager chaired or joined any more boards, committees, clubs and associations.
“You missed out,” said Stamatiades, referring to people who did not have a chance to meet the robust community leader. “But he would have also made you crazy.”
He would have, after all, as Sinatra sang, be doing things his way.
Wager is survived by six daughters and nine grandchildren.
This piece originally appeared in Queens Chronicle
