IN LOVING MEMORY OF
August "Gus"
Umlauf, Sr.
January 16, 1935 – January 10, 2025
Obituary
In
Loving
Memory
of
August
"Gus"
Umlauf,
Sr.
(01/16/1935-01/10/2025)
August Umlauf, Sr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Friday, January 10 th , 2025, in Tryon, NC, just days shy of his 90th birthday. It's impossible to capture Gus' remarkable life in just a few words, but here's our best effort.
August Umlauf, preceded in death by his wife Julia "Sheila" Umlauf, was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 16 th , 1935, and was orphaned at an early age. He spent his formative years as a ward of The Edwin Gould Foundation. Despite his humble beginnings, he built an extraordinary life defined by resilience, love, and success. He fell deeply in love with Sheila Sullivan, the perfect woman, who became his wife for 60 beautiful years. Together, they created a life filled with love, laughter, and adventure, raising their family and traveling the world.
Gus is survived by his sons, August Umlauf, Jr. and Sean (Beth) Umlauf, his daughter Julia Umlauf, and his grandchildren Brandon, Jessica (Zachary Bowen), and Mason (Megan). He was also blessed with great-grandchildren Hank and Garrett Bowen and an eagerly awaited soon-to-arrive Baby Umlauf.
Gus was a proud Army veteran who served in the Signal Corps. He earned his bachelor's degree from Kansas State University and was a graduate of Harvard Business School. As a CPA, he built a highly successful career, beginning at Arthur Young, Clarkson & Gordon Accounting, then moved on as Vice President of Finance at WR Grace, which allowed him the honor of serving on the Grace Commission under the Reagan Administration. His financial expertise and leadership were instrumental to the company's growth. August later became President of Baker & Taylor Publishing, leading what was then the world's largest distributor of books and videos. His leadership left a lasting mark on the publishing industry. Remarkably, he retired at 55, having achieved more than most do in a lifetime.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, August was an author of two memoirs By Way of Canarsie and Ouda Brooklyn-capturing his experiences growing up as an orphan in 1940s New York City. He also contributed a chapter on trickle-down economics for Harvard Business School. An adventurer and lifelong learner, August was a Life Master Bridge player, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker known by the trail name "Poke," and a dedicated marathon runner who completed the NYC, Boston, and Newport, RI marathons. Above all, he will be remembered as the world's best husband, father, and grandfather.
Say hi to Grandmother for us, Dad. We love you forever.
Interment will be held privately at Gethsemane Cemetery in Congers, NY.
August Umlauf, Sr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Friday, January 10 th , 2025, in Tryon, NC, just days shy of his 90th birthday. It's impossible to capture Gus' remarkable life in just a few words, but here's our best effort.
August Umlauf, preceded in death by his wife Julia "Sheila" Umlauf, was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 16 th , 1935, and was orphaned at an early age. He spent his formative years as a ward of The Edwin Gould Foundation. Despite his humble beginnings, he built an extraordinary life defined by resilience, love, and success. He fell deeply in love with Sheila Sullivan, the perfect woman, who became his wife for 60 beautiful years. Together, they created a life filled with love, laughter, and adventure, raising their family and traveling the world.
Gus is survived by his sons, August Umlauf, Jr. and Sean (Beth) Umlauf, his daughter Julia Umlauf, and his grandchildren Brandon, Jessica (Zachary Bowen), and Mason (Megan). He was also blessed with great-grandchildren Hank and Garrett Bowen and an eagerly awaited soon-to-arrive Baby Umlauf.
Gus was a proud Army veteran who served in the Signal Corps. He earned his bachelor's degree from Kansas State University and was a graduate of Harvard Business School. As a CPA, he built a highly successful career, beginning at Arthur Young, Clarkson & Gordon Accounting, then moved on as Vice President of Finance at WR Grace, which allowed him the honor of serving on the Grace Commission under the Reagan Administration. His financial expertise and leadership were instrumental to the company's growth. August later became President of Baker & Taylor Publishing, leading what was then the world's largest distributor of books and videos. His leadership left a lasting mark on the publishing industry. Remarkably, he retired at 55, having achieved more than most do in a lifetime.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, August was an author of two memoirs By Way of Canarsie and Ouda Brooklyn-capturing his experiences growing up as an orphan in 1940s New York City. He also contributed a chapter on trickle-down economics for Harvard Business School. An adventurer and lifelong learner, August was a Life Master Bridge player, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker known by the trail name "Poke," and a dedicated marathon runner who completed the NYC, Boston, and Newport, RI marathons. Above all, he will be remembered as the world's best husband, father, and grandfather.
Say hi to Grandmother for us, Dad. We love you forever.
Interment will be held privately at Gethsemane Cemetery in Congers, NY.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of August "Gus" Umlauf, Sr., please visit our flower store.
August "Gus" Umlauf, Sr.'s Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors