WESTBROOK- Wayne Perry Thompson, 72, died on June 8, 2023, in Portland, Maine.
Wayne was born on February 11, 1951, in Newton, MA, the third of five children of Charles A. Thompson and Jean Perry Thompson. He spent his childhood and teenage years in Newton Highlands and his summers in Maine, first on Spruce Point and later on Squirrel Island when his family bought their summer home in 1956. As a teen on Squirrel Island, he was one of the venerated Garbage Men and Truck Guys, riding shotgun with Carl Nickerson.
After graduating from Nasson College in Springvale, ME, Wayne was freed from institutional education and spent the rest of his life educating himself on everything that captured his interest and endless curiosity. His primary profession was as a chef, a trade he learned at a Vail, CO, ski resort. Living in Vail allowed him to enjoy one of his great hobbies, skiing. Wayne was an elegant skier and he spent many hours alpine and backcountry skiing.
Some years later, he moved to Sonoma County, CA, where he lived and thrived for over 25 years. He worked as a chef, carpenter, sheep farm manager and nature store manager. In California, he pursued interests in natural history, sailing, kayaking, wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education and any vehicle with wheels. In 1988, he combined his love of skiing with his knowledge of food preparation and partnered with friends to operate a food concession booth at the alpine ski venue of the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
In his late 40s, after years of living with troubling physical ailments, Wayne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. True to Wayne’s character, he met this obstacle head-on and self-engineered multiple adaptations that allowed him to continue his active, independent lifestyle. He installed floor-to-ceiling poles and ramps in his homes and had a vast array of remote controls at his armchair that could operate virtually any electric or electronic device. He was always trying out the latest invention in wheelchair mobility. He even rigged up a type of crane for his van on which he could mount his wheelchair and transfer it into the back of the van to be carried to his next destination.
Wayne’s heart and soul were nourished in the wild places; and, despite a weakening body, he embarked on three solo sailing tours of the San Juan Straits. While on his voyages, he wrote daily journals to share via email with family and friends, describing his observations, reflections, fears and joys. His writing was witty, wry, moving and personal. On a trip in 2013, with his distinctive sense of humor, he acknowledged the challenges of sailing a 23-foot sailboat alone in the unpredictable waters of the Straits… “My legs weaken quickly after stooping and crouching, but all the best pirates had disabilities – peglegs and hooks for hands.”
Wayne had a passion for and an encyclopedic knowledge of music, no doubt nurtured by his teenage summers on Squirrel Island listening to endless hours of CSNY, Linda Ronstadt, Cream, Traffic, the Allman Brothers and The Youngbloods. In his later years, he enjoyed telling the story of meeting Alison Kraus in person after a performance and she telling him that the dress she wore that night was borrowed from a friend at the last minute.
As Wayne’s MS progressed, his siblings persuaded him to move to Maine. He lived his last five years at Seaside Healthcare Facility in Portland, yet he continued his life as an explorer touring the Portland waterfront in the latest set of wheels he engineered. His life at Seaside was deeply enriched by the many visits, phone calls and cards from family and friends, as well as the congenial, and often hilarious, relationships he had with the staff at Seaside characterized by a mutual exchange of wit, lively banter and true caring.
Wayne lived life with his mind, arms and heart wide open. He developed and nurtured deep friendships wherever he lived, while also maintaining those from his early years in Newton and Squirrel Island. Wayne cherished his family and kept an active interest in their personal lives. He is survived by his sister Meredith Kerr (Scott); Dana Humphreys; David Thompson (Ginger); nephews and nieces James Kerr (Ann); Sarah Puryear (Dan); Timothy Kerr; Carey Thompson (Teynan); Helen Humphreys; Micha Thompson (Tim); Nora Thompson; and great nephews and nieces Charlie and Vivian Kerr, Hays and Evelyn Puryear, and Charlie and Leyla Thompson. He was predeceased by his older brother Tommy and brother-in-law Steve Humphreys.
Wayne had a green burial in Limington, Maine, on June 13. A service of remembrance will be celebrated with family and friends on Squirrel Island on Saturday, August 19. For those who wish, donations in Wayne’s memory may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com