Wayne Russell Conners, 60, much beloved husband of Missy Rand, passed peacefully at home in Alexandria, VA surrounded by loved ones on December 30, 2019 after courageously living with melanoma for four years.
Devoted son, husband, father, brother and friend, Wayne is also survived by children Julia, Sam (Lauren); Morgan Barker and Haley Horvath (Eric); kitty Scarlett, sister Tori Bess (Bill), brother David (Candice), chosen brother Greg Rollins, former wife Darcie Reemtsen, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Carlton Andrew Conners and Ruth Moore Conners. He is remembered fondly by family and friends from the many places he lived and worked.
Wayne earned a Bachelor of Theater Arts degree from Northeastern University, and a Master of Instructional Technology from the Curry School at The University of Virginia. Most recently he enjoyed his position as Senior Director, Member Education Services at The American Institute of Architects. His career in professional education also included working for Virginia Society AIA, VCU Department of Psychiatry, and Anderson Consulting.
Wayne had a lifelong love of music and theater. An accomplished musician, singer and actor, he was a member of Commonwealth Baptist Church and active in the music ministry. He played in many bands, most recently appearing as The Big Weenie in Miss Clairol & the Cocktail Weenies. Often his wicked sense of humor was tested during UVA vs Virginia Tech football games where he lost bets to his wife, but Hoo Basketball gifted him with a national championship that more than balanced the books. A voracious and eclectic reader, he often read to Missy as she cooked or before sleep.
A memorial Service will be held at Commonwealth Baptist Church, 700 Commonwealth Ave. Alexandria, VA 22301, Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 1 pm. Reception to follow.
To honor his gratitude for the benefits he received from melanoma cancer research and treatment, Wayne became an advocate with the Melanoma Research Foundation and co-founder of the support group Living with Melanoma Alexandria. To extend his hope for a cure for others facing melanoma, the family requests you GetNaked for a skin check and consider a donation in his memory to the Melanoma Research Foundation (melanoma.org/).
Y'all, I'm being just where I am, and have the blessing of family here with me making sure the trains run on time. I'm so, so very sad, and will have a lot of work in front of me to learn to live without Wayne beside me each day, but I will, somehow.
I'm going to need to go quiet here for a while, so I will depend on this community to continue to help one another as you know well how to do.
Cancer sucks, but love is greater.
Peace,
Missy
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Our Dear Missy, my deepest condolences and fiercest hugs to you. Thank you for being there for so many of us while enduring so much. Your other family here is waiting for you with open arms whenever you need us. 🙏🏽😢🧸
Dear Missy, I am so sorry to hear of Wayne’s passing. He fought a long battle, and did much for the Melanoma community here and in your own community. God Bless and comfort you and your family. Life without him will be hard indeed, but you know he would want for you to. Heaven has gained another angel, your angel.
Waking up to this sucked... Wayne fought and fought hard. You fought right beside him. I have learned so much from you and Wayne. Your whole family is in my thoughts. My heart is real heavy... 💔
My heart goes out to you and your family. Your family fought in hell of a fight and through it shared how to live and make the most of each day despite the hell melanoma puts you through.
I am very grateful for everything you have shared emotionally, educationally and just being real through out your family journey. Your knowledge and heart have helped my family tremendously.
I am so very sorry and sad . I imagine that there is some peace in knowing that you explored all treatment options and even contributed to our hope for a cure by participating in clinical trials. Your knowledge and your willingness to help others throughout this journey is surely a blessing to all of us. We all appreciated you and Wayne . You are right. Love endures always and your love was evident in every word you wrote about Wayne. I send you love and peace as you move forward .
I am so very sorry for your loss. Know that you have helped so many for your presence here, your advice and support and your story. I followed you throughout my husband’s very aggressive one year battle with melanoma, and just knowing there were others out there fighting helped me greatly. Mark died eight months ago and it does get easier but never the same as it was. What an awful disease. Much love to you and your family.♥️Julie
I am so sorry for your tremendous loss. Your husband sounds like he was an amazing man and will be missed by many. I can’t imagine what you are going through but please know I am sending love and strength to you and your family.
I am so very sorry to hear of Wayne’s passing. He has fought a long fight and you have bravely stood beside him. And both of you have helped the melanoma community in so many ways. You are a beacon of light to all of us here , educating us with your own story and your knowledge and for that I am so very grateful. We will be respectfully waiting for your return if you so decide.
Sending love and strength for you in these sad times ❤️
Missy, My sincere condolences to you and your family for the passing of your husband. Wishing you and your family peace to bring you comfort and courage to face the days ahead. Thank you for devotion and support for always helping others with this terrible disease. Chris
I am so so sorry to be reading this. My heart goes out to you and your family. What a beautiful picture of your warrior and love. Stay strong when you can, know you are being prayed for and held in our hearts 💕
Thank you. Yesterday marked one month since a Wayne died and I really missed him extra this week. I went with Wayne’s sister Tori to their Uncle Lee’s funeral ( he lived a long life, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer the day of Wayne’s service and died 3 days later).
On the way home from Boston we got a call at the airport that Tori’s husband was found dead at home. This week has been very difficult
Oh my goodness. I am so so sorry. That is a lot to digest and process. I hope you are hanging in and taking the time you need for yourself . I am so sorry your family is going through so much right now. My heart goes out to you and your family. Sending much love, many prayers and all the strength your way. 💌💕
Dear Missy, I am so so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing the memorial with us and thank you for using the words "lived courageously with melanoma" instead of some words that are often used. As someone with melanoma, I much prefer your words! Wayne was so lucky to have such an amazing partner. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. It helped me so many times, even if I didn't say so. Please take the time you need and feel the grief however feels right. Wishing you peace. I'm in such awe of your love and grace.
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