Obituary for Joel E. Wacek
Joel E. Wacek, of Medfield, MA, tragically passed away on Friday, May 20, 2022 after being struck by a car while running near his home. He was 40 years old.
Joel was born August 20, 1981 in Waconia, MN to Douglas and Becky Wacek. In 1986, the family moved to Burlington, VT, where Joel loved boating and fishing in the summer and skiing in the winter. He told many stories to his kids about his childhood antics in Burlington with his brother, Neil, and friend, Mike. He also watched every Celtics game with his dad and cheered for his favorite player, #33, Larry Bird.
In 1999, he was accepted to Boston College, where he double majored in Economics and History. He quickly became an avid Boston College sports fan and attended many basketball and football games with his friends, Brad and Tom. The three men remained lifelong friends, continuing to tailgate and go to games and more recently bringing their wives and children along.
After graduating in 2003, Joel worked one year as a paralegal at Rich May, in Boston, MA. He then was hired as a consultant by Hoffman Alvary, Newton, MA, where he remained for the rest of his career. He became a Principal at Hoffman Alvary, excelling as a brilliant financial expert in a broad range of litigation and dispute engagements. He earned a Master’s of Business Administration and a Master’s of Science in Finance at Boston College, while working.
Joel met his wife, Karen, while out with friends in Boston at a restaurant called #33, which indeed proved to be his lucky number in life. They were married in 2010 and moved to Medfield, MA in 2012, where they found a wonderful, supportive community for raising their family.
Joel loved Boston’s sports, Star Wars, good craft beer, and perfectly cooked meat from his own smoker. Most importantly, Joel loved his family. He was a devoted husband and father of two, as well as being a great friend to almost everyone he met. Joel will always be remembered fondly for his thoughtfulness, intelligence, humility, and sense of humor. His kindness and selflessness had no bounds, and he was a true friend and mentor to many.
Joel is survived by his wife, Karen Schneider, and two children, Amelia (age 9) and Elliot (age 7); father, Douglas J. Wacek, and step-mother Judith (Judy), of Burlington, VT; brother, Neil Wacek, and sister-in-law, Victoria (Vickie), of Shelburne, VT; mother-in-law, Christine Schneider, of Cape Vincent, NY; father-in-law, Clifford Schneider, and his partner Kathy, of Wellesley Island, NY; brother-in-law, David Schneider, of Watertown, NY; and close friends, Mike Flowers, Brad Swift and Tom Smith. Joel was predeceased by his mother, Becky Wacek.
The family is appreciative of the overwhelming support and love from family, friends, partners at Hoffman Alvary, and the town of Medfield. We are experiencing a huge loss, but we know we will never be alone.
Calling hours will be held at the Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home, 15 Miller Street, Medfield, MA on Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 5 to 7pm. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.robertsmitchellcaruso.com.The family respectfully requests all attendees wear masks while inside the funeral home.
The family is creating a memorial fund for the benefit of Amelia and Elliot, the loving children Joel has left behind. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wacek-Schneider Family Trust through a Go Fund Me page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-wacekschneider-family) or mailed to Wacek-Schneider Family Trust, PO Box 920825, Needham, MA 02492.
Joel was born August 20, 1981 in Waconia, MN to Douglas and Becky Wacek. In 1986, the family moved to Burlington, VT, where Joel loved boating and fishing in the summer and skiing in the winter. He told many stories to his kids about his childhood antics in Burlington with his brother, Neil, and friend, Mike. He also watched every Celtics game with his dad and cheered for his favorite player, #33, Larry Bird.
In 1999, he was accepted to Boston College, where he double majored in Economics and History. He quickly became an avid Boston College sports fan and attended many basketball and football games with his friends, Brad and Tom. The three men remained lifelong friends, continuing to tailgate and go to games and more recently bringing their wives and children along.
After graduating in 2003, Joel worked one year as a paralegal at Rich May, in Boston, MA. He then was hired as a consultant by Hoffman Alvary, Newton, MA, where he remained for the rest of his career. He became a Principal at Hoffman Alvary, excelling as a brilliant financial expert in a broad range of litigation and dispute engagements. He earned a Master’s of Business Administration and a Master’s of Science in Finance at Boston College, while working.
Joel met his wife, Karen, while out with friends in Boston at a restaurant called #33, which indeed proved to be his lucky number in life. They were married in 2010 and moved to Medfield, MA in 2012, where they found a wonderful, supportive community for raising their family.
Joel loved Boston’s sports, Star Wars, good craft beer, and perfectly cooked meat from his own smoker. Most importantly, Joel loved his family. He was a devoted husband and father of two, as well as being a great friend to almost everyone he met. Joel will always be remembered fondly for his thoughtfulness, intelligence, humility, and sense of humor. His kindness and selflessness had no bounds, and he was a true friend and mentor to many.
Joel is survived by his wife, Karen Schneider, and two children, Amelia (age 9) and Elliot (age 7); father, Douglas J. Wacek, and step-mother Judith (Judy), of Burlington, VT; brother, Neil Wacek, and sister-in-law, Victoria (Vickie), of Shelburne, VT; mother-in-law, Christine Schneider, of Cape Vincent, NY; father-in-law, Clifford Schneider, and his partner Kathy, of Wellesley Island, NY; brother-in-law, David Schneider, of Watertown, NY; and close friends, Mike Flowers, Brad Swift and Tom Smith. Joel was predeceased by his mother, Becky Wacek.
The family is appreciative of the overwhelming support and love from family, friends, partners at Hoffman Alvary, and the town of Medfield. We are experiencing a huge loss, but we know we will never be alone.
Calling hours will be held at the Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home, 15 Miller Street, Medfield, MA on Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 5 to 7pm. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.robertsmitchellcaruso.com.The family respectfully requests all attendees wear masks while inside the funeral home.
The family is creating a memorial fund for the benefit of Amelia and Elliot, the loving children Joel has left behind. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wacek-Schneider Family Trust through a Go Fund Me page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-wacekschneider-family) or mailed to Wacek-Schneider Family Trust, PO Box 920825, Needham, MA 02492.