Daniel Wayne

Daniel George Wayne, "Dan" 82, died June 10th, 2020 at Hallworth House Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, after a decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was the son of Henry Child Wayne and Mary Poland Wayne, and was a native New Englander. After a brief interruption in his studies to enter the U.S. Air Force as a mechanic from 1958 – 62 (where he was involved in the mission to find Gary Powers, among other adventures throughout the Azores, North Africa and Japan), he graduated with an A.B. from Brown University, and received his M.B.A. from Harvard University. An early job entailed test-driving cars for Rolls Royce in New York. This was followed by positions in marketing for Royal Crown Cola, Irvin Industries (in the parachute division), Haskon Corporation, Auto Placement Center, and Comsearch on the east coast, as well as European Auto Parts in northern California.

Dan was a devoted father to his two daughters, and delighted in following the growth and development of his two grandsons.  He loved to tinker with cars, be pit crew for his racing friends, ride his motorcycle, paint model airplanes, and build sculptures and stained glass.  He was the consummate “fixer of things.” As his world grew smaller and more limited by the Parkinson’s, and many of these favorite activities were no longer possible, he still tried to do the Jumble and crossword in the paper every day. He didn’t often miss an appointment to watch Jeopardy!, his favorite tv show (he was often the winner of the in-person version played during his time at the Scandinavian Home Assisted Living). His mind stayed sharp as he body declined, and he could be counted on for a humorous quip to sum up a day’s activities with family that made us all laugh heartily.

He was predeceased by his brother, Henry "Hank" Townsend Wayne, and is survived by his wife Vera Samak Wayne of Riverside, his daughter JC Wayne and her partner K Sanderson of Shelburne, VT, his daughter Halley Townsend Wayne Lavenstein, son-in-law Victor Woerner Lavenstein, Jr, and grandsons Sevrin Henry Lavenstein and Kinley Vander Lavenstein of Cranston, RI. 

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday June 19th at 10:00am in The Butterfield Chapel 500 Pontiac Avenue Cranston.

In lieu of flowers donations in his name may be made to Hallworth House Rehabilitation & Nursing Center 66 Benefit Street Providence, RI 02604 or the American Parkinson Disease Association www.apdaparkinson.org