Wayne Clifford LaBOMBARD

LaBombard, Wayne Clifford was a fun-loving and vibrant person with a quick wit and dry sense of humor who greatly enjoyed being with family and friends. Among his favorite things to do were dancing to Big Band music with his late wife, Virginia, playing cribbage and spending time on a golf course. True to his Boston roots, he enjoyed watching hundreds of Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins games with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Wayne was a World War II Veteran who served two tours of duty in North Africa under General Patton, and in Italy under Colonel Donovan as a member of the Office of Special Services (OSS), a forerunner in the modern day Army Rangers, Delta Forces and CIA Covert Operations. As an Army Sergeant T4,his unit was heavily involved in covert reconnaissance and intelligence operations that led to the invasion of Italy at Anzio in 1944. At war's end, Wayne returned to civilian life and spent most of his career as a terminal manager in the trucking business for Yale Transport, Schuster Express and Jefferson Pilot. Wayne and his wife Virginia went on to have three children, Carol, Bill and Jack. He was the kind of Dad who coached little league baseball, and attended every sporting event imaginable including baseball, football, lacrosse and hockey. He was also well known to capture many video recordings and photographs of his daughter Carol as she made her way down the grand stairs of their Medford home en route to high school proms or other functions. With the birth of his grandchildren, Wayne followed these same traditions of traveing to just about every sporting event possible from soccer to rugby, and never missing high school or
college graduations which spanned over the many years of his 5 grandchildren Carla, Michelle, Michael, Nicole and Jeffrey. Wayne was an animal lover and that feeling was always reciprocated. He could always be found with a cat, or two, in his lap or playing with the family dogs Mason, Killian, Jackson and Ralph. Upon retirement from working, Wayne and Virginia moved to Hyannis, MA on Cape Cod where they lived for 15 years, a time which they truly enjoyed. They had a large circle of friends and were active members of the community. Ironically they came full circle in this move as Wayne had been stationed in Falmouth, also on Cape Cod, prior to his deployment in 1942. Following Virginia's passing in 2003, Wayne moved to Northfield, MA to live with his granddaughter Carla Simpson and her family. Also raising a family in Northfield at this time was his middle son, Bill. His stated goal at that point in his life was to walk his great granddaughter, Sophie Simpson, to her first day of kindergarten at NES, a goal which he well surpassed as Sophie is now a middle school student at PVRS. He cherished his time with his great grandchildren, Sophie (13) and Ian (10), of Northfield. He was an active member of their lives attending school functions, musical performances and various sporting events. A favorite pastime of Wayne's was watching Red Sox and Patriots games with his great grandson Ian, each in their own recliner. These times with his great-grandfather helped shape Ian into the avid sports fan and athlete he is today. In these later years, Wayne's existence revolved around the details of Sophie and Ian's lives, watching them grow and being an integral part of their lives gave him great pleasure and purpose. Over these past 12 years in Northfield, Wayne became "Papa" to many children, and adults, within the Northfield community. Though his loving nature and caring presence will be sorely missed, his Northfield family will be forever grateful to have had him in their lives. Wayne died peacefully at home on November 8, 2015 amidst a loving circle of family and adoring furry friends Tommy and Moxie. Wayne's family would like to thank all of the kind and loving caregivers who assisted in caring for him at home. In particular, they would like to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to his friend and PCA Andrea Arnold of Northfield for her loving care and affection throughout his last years at home. Wayne leaves his sons, Bill LaBombard (Donna) and Jack LaBombard (Patti), daughter, Carol Mulcahy (Ed), brother, William LaBombard (Marian), 5 grandchildren: Carla Simpson, Michelle Corr (Jay), Nicole Chandonnet (Justin) and Michael and Jeffrey LaBombard and 2 great-grandchildren, Sophie and Ian Simpson. Through the guidance and care of Franklin County Home Care, Wayne was able to safely live and ultimately die peacefully and in a dignified manner at home. Please consider a donation in Wayne's name to either Franklin County Home
Care 330 Montague City Rd, Turner's Falls MA 01376 or Hospice of Franklin County 329 Conway St. Suite 2 Greenfield MA 01301 so that other veterans can be cared for at home in this same manner. A military service will follow in Spring 2016 at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA where Wayne will be laid to rest with his wife Virginia. Details to be announced by family. End of Life Services have been entrusted to Avalon Life Celebration Center & Cremation Services, LLC 691 College Hwy., Southwick, MA 01077. Please visit Wayne's Life Tribute page at www.avaloncelebrations.com