Wayne M. Johnson, 64, died Aug. 19 after a courageous battle against cancer at Spring Brook Nursing Care & Rehabilitation Center in Westbrook.
He was born in Rockland, the son of Vaino Alexander and Eleanor Tibbetts Johnson, and attended Rockland High School, where he was state debate champion.
He lost his right leg at the age of 18 to a rare and deadly form of cancer and was operated on at Knox County Hospital in Rockland and Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City.
He attended the University of Maine, was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity and was selected as Alumnus of the Year in 2004. He was president of the Sophomore Owls and Senior Skulls Honor Societies. Wayne also won a Rotary Club Fellowship, which allowed him to study economics at the London School of Economics in London, England. He received a JD degree from George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC.
While at the University of Maine, he won an internship to work in Washington, DC in the office of First District Congressman, Stan Tupper, and earned extra credits while studying at American and George Washington Universities.
Following graduation from law school, he was selected by HUD Secretary George Romney to become the youngest director of a HUD/FHA field office in the country, in his home state of Maine.
He was chairman of the Yarmouth Republican Town Committee and counseled many people with disabilities.
On May 30, 2000, he lost his wife, Janet, to cancer. By May 2001, what would have been Wayne and Janet’s 31st wedding anniversary, he sprinted 100 meters at the National Sports Festival at Connecticut College, the largest event in the country. Wayne broke 11 world records, earned 17 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal. He designed a state of the art carbon fiber sprinting leg, which today is considered a major breakthrough for above-the-knee amputees.
Wayne was a member of the First Parish Congregational Church in Yarmouth, helped found the Yarmouth Hockey Boosters Club, coached hockey and Little League Baseball. He was president of the Casco Bay Youth Hockey Association and served on various town committees.
Wayne is survived by his daughter, Liza; sons, Sven and Eric; grandsons, Taylor and Dylan; and a brother, Donald.
Memorial service 11 a.m., Thurs., Aug. 24 at First Parish Congregational Church in Yarmouth, with Rev. Carra Bradt officiating.
Burial 11 a.m., Sat., Aug. 26 at Achorn Cemetery in Rockland.
Arrangements are under the care of Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. Family and friends are invited to take part in developing a biography and photographic life story at www.mem.com. Your personal, written tributes are welcomed and encouraged.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Wayne’s memory to Maine Cancer Research & Education Foundation, P.O. Box 553, Portland, ME 04112-0553.
