Wayne Charles McMahon

It is with our deepest regret and sorrow to inform you that in the late morning of April 27th, 2023 the Great Wayne Charles McMahon closed his eyes for a morning nap and passed away peacefully in his sleep. Wayne was born on December 20th of 1945 in Brooklyn, New York as the middle child of three brothers to Dennis McMahon and Alice Austin. He is survived by his wife and life partner Julie Reynolds, 10 of his 11 children Shana, Grindl, Holly, Persephone, Zachary, Gavin, Columbia, Sierra, Zoe and Molly, his grand Children Shastin, Megan, Jeffrey, Kai, Landon, Caylee, Charlotte, Dakota, Bertie, Arwin, Clover, previous wives Diana, Treva and Lana and his brother Richard as he reunites with his eldest daughter Ananda, eldest brother Dennis and parents on their next adventure. Wayne and his brothers were raised in Boca Raton, where he graduated from SeaCrest High School in the class of 1963. His father was a hotel manager at the Boca Raton Resort, as a family they would travel to the Northeastern states during the summer to escape the insufferable heat. Wayne was an exceptional student and athlete; he played tennis competitively into his early twenties. He would tell stories of how as a teenager he would ride his bike across town every day to shag balls for the pros at the local club for hours to get the opportunity to play with them for 15 minutes.

One winter morning Wayne camped out on the steps of the financial aid office at Nassau Community College in Long Beach, New York. He coated himself in a blanket of snow as the staff arrived. They were compelled by his “dedication” to give him the aid he needed to begin classes right away. In Long Beach, he became one of the early pioneers of Northeastern Surfers as he partied and dated his way through college. He drove a cab in New York City to get himself through college as he studied Aerospace and Nuclear engineering at Stoney Brooke University. He continued to be a student of the world throughout his life, he studied spirituality, religion, scientology and higher consciousness.

Wayne went on to live an extraordinary life. He attended World Fairs and Woodstock, he sailed from New York to the Bahamas, spent a fortune he made off the proceeds of a chemical business traveling through Europe, mined for gold in Baja California and had run-ins with the FBI. He spent the better part of ten years living on a boat with his wife and children in the Florida Keyes swimming, diving, fishing and exploring new islands before finally settling down to raise his Family in San Diego, California.

Above all else, Waynes greatest pride was his family. He fathered 11 children and raised many more. His will and determination to live 77 years was driven by his desire to see his children grow, find success, and extend families of their own. He was the glue that kept his family together, he kept his children coming home every Sunday for family dinners and hosted holidays. Never forgot a birthday and made sure to always pick up the phone to sing Happy Birthday, not just a text. He stressed the importance of marriage, having children and contributing to building a better world and society. He built a home that was always open, a place family could always return to for comfort, advice and safety. His friends and family will remember his elaborate storytelling filled with visuals and humor, so detailed that you could feel like you were standing there with him in that moment. His children will remember and cherish the 1960’s classics he would play on the guitar and make them sing along to.

He had a personality that absolutely filled the room, he was witty and charming and connected with people from all walks of life. He could be crass and tough, but he always said what he means and meant what he said which didn’t always have the best response, but he rarely took it personally. He had high expectations for people and demanded the best from them. He held people accountable always, and made you hold yourself accountable. Many people will remember him as they smartest man they’ve ever met, and he knew it too, he was truly brilliant. He could talk about any subject, science, history, politics, or mathematics so in depth that it seemed as if he was reading it off the page of a book. He enjoyed healthy debate (and sometimes unhealthy). He was a man of action, there was never a problem, dilemma, or job that he couldn’t solve with enough time and effort.

No one could tell Wayne what to do, except maybe Julie, which led to his successful career in business. He valued his time, and freedom, freedom of creation and ideas, what projects he would take on or when. His business was his second greatest pride. At first, it started to pay the bills, while allowing the freedom to travel to their boat in Florida, then it became a legacy and home for his family and children. He cared deeply for his employees and their success as much as his own and treated them like family, always offering a hand-up when needed. He will be truly missed as a father, grandfather, husband, business owner and mentor. We will truly miss him every day!