This online memorial was created in loving memory of Wayne Day, whose life story is told throughout this memorial website. Please sign Wayne's guest book and let us know you came to visit. We will love Wayne forever and will never forget him.

Wayne was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in April of 1999. Wayne was a marathon runner and very active prior to his diagnosis that occurred after the first seizure he ever had in his life. He initially had a hard time when he was told he had a brain tumor. However, he resolved he wouldn't give up and was determined to fight the tumor. Prior to his initial surgery in typical Wayne fashion he said, "I hope it will make me a better person". It did.

After Wayne's surgery it was determined he had a low grade oligodendroglioma. Wayne had radiation and suffered from epilepsy until his death. Wayne was a high school math teacher who also taught math at the university. He loved his students (most of the time) and tried to start each day with a positive attitude. As time went on he bravely faced the challenges of his diagnosis. He was taking numerous anti-seizure medications so he had another brain surgery in 2003 in attempt to resect the site of the seizures. The surgery was unsuccessful. In April of 2005 Wayne's tumor began growing and morphed into a glioblastoma. First his right arm became paralyzed, then his leg and he became confined to a wheelchair. He began suffering from aphasia and because his tumor was growing quickly, he opted for one last brain surgery in October of 2005 at the UCLA Malignanat Brain Tumor Center. By that time Wayne could no longer speak. They resected most of the tumor but Wayne suffered further impairments and could no longer write. The tumor contined to grow until "the beast" won the battle in February of 2006.

Wayne was very courageous and continued to face every day with a positive attitude until the day he died. Wayne will never be forgotten by those who knew and loved him.

Wayne loved Alaska, his home, his family, his pets and trees. Wayne spent his last three summers planting numerous trees around his house that now bloom and stand as living memorials to his love. If you would like to honor and remeber Wayne, plant a tree in his memory.

Wayne was able to continue teaching until May of 2005 when he could no longer walk. He insisted on getting physical therapy and worked hard daily until a short time before his death because he always believed he would go back to his job.

Wayne spent quite a bit of time in the hospital during the last year of his life, but Wayne and Kathy were still able to travel throught the Yukon Territory of Canada in August of 2005 and went to Las Vegas the weekend before Wayne's surgery. They stayed at the Luxor Hotel as Wayne always wanted to go to Egypt and were able to take in several comedy shows. Wayne found joy in everything and kept his sense of humor until the end.

Wayne had his last brain surgery in California in October of 2005. That day he was dressed in a hospital gown, had been prepped for surgery and was being being wheeled towards the operating area. Wayne could no longer speak so he had a pencil and paper on which he had to write everything to communicate. Kathy was by his side as they were approaching the last door to the operating rooms and he was flanked by two nurses and a doctor. After Kathy kissed Wayne and just as they were wheeling Wayne away the nurse asked if Wayne had any other questions. He shook his head yes and took out his paper and pencil from under the sheet. He wrote "I changed my mind !". Wayne was only kidding but you can imagine the look on the staff's faces.

***The song playing is by Warren Zevon who wrote it while he was dying of cancer. It was played at Wayne's Celebration of Life and was a favorite of Wayne's.