Wayne Paul Sicard

1947 - 2023

Wayne Paul Sicard
January 7, 1947 - March 12, 2023
Modesto, California - Wayne Paul Sicard, age 76, of Modesto, CA, formerly of Cambridge, OH, passed into eternal life on Sunday March 12th, 2023 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Santa Clara, CA with loving family and friends by his side. He was born on January 7, 1947 in Newburyport, MA, son of the late Charles and Janet (Doyle) Sicard.
Wayne was a pilot for United Airlines for 39 years, retiring as a 747 captain. He was also retired from the California National Guard. Wayne was an active member of the former St. Benedict's parish in Cambridge and a staunch supporter of Marriage Encounter. He was an avid sport pilot and flight instructor. Wayne also enjoyed sailing, scuba diving and loved to travel. He was an active diver for the Coral Restoration Foundation in Tavernier, FL for many years. Wayne supported multiple human rights and civic organizations and was the current and 35th president of the Modesto Institute for Continued Learning.
Wayne is survived by his wife of 54 years, Diana Higgins Sicard of Modesto, daughters Erin Sicard of Folsom CA and Lori Sicard of Modesto, sons Colin Sicard (Kim Chau-Sicard) and Brian Sicard (Taylor Endly Sicard) all of San Diego CA, grandchildren Tatyana Guerrero, Colton Buzzell, Madeleine Sicard, and Eden Endly, brother Kevin Sicard (Suellen) of Zanesville OH, sister Jane Staver (Ken) of Seffner FL, close cousins Tam Sicard of New London, NH and Cheri Sicard of B.C. Mexico, best friend Mark Provost of Happy Valley, OR, diving partner brother-in-law Dan Higgins of Bethesda, MD, travel companions brothers-in-law David Higgins and David Miles of San Diego, CA and many other extended family members, cousins, nephews, nieces and countless special friends. Wayne met and married his wife Diana in Richmond VA in 1968. They lived in Richmond VA, Alexandria VA, Belmont CA, Tiburon CA, Brookfield VT, Petaluma CA, Nitro WV and Cambridge OH before moving to Modesto in 2017 to be closer to family.
Wayne grew up in Sarasota, FL and delivered newspapers and pumped gas at the local small airport, saving all his money to take flying lessons. He continued building up flight hours throughout his teens while also serving as a proud member of the Civil Air Patrol. He graduated from Riverview High School and attended the local junior college. Wayne was offered a flight engineer position with United in 1967 but had to wait until he turned 21 the following year to be officially hired per company policy. Over his career, he flew the DC-6, Boeing 737, 757, 767, 777 and 747, traveling the world. In 1993, he was named Captain of the Year for the JFK Flight Operations Division for re-mapping all of United's South American routes.
Wayne's love of flying defined him and he had a variety of small planes over his lifetime. He instructed countless individuals over the years and was continuing to instruct in his Citabria which was hangered near Modesto. He loved having his own grass airstrip for the 38 years he lived in Cambridge and also taught his wife and three of his four children to fly. He led a chapter of the Civil Air Patrol for several years, inspiring teens in the love of aviation. Wayne could answer any question about any craft that flew or floated and also enjoyed sailing his own boats on San Francisco Bay and along coastal Florida. He built a one-seater airplane, flew across the country in a two-seater plane five times and was a lifetime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Wayne never met a stranger, lived life to the fullest and was known for his wonderful smile, constant sense of adventure, boisterous storytelling, party hosting and signature margarita recipe. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather and friend. A celebration of life will be held at the Modesto Regional Airport, Hangar 1-S on May 6th and in June in Cambridge. Memory donations may be made to Hogar Infantil (Chiapas children's organization) P.O. Box 7049 Salem OR 97303, www.hogarinfantil.org; Hospice of Guernsey P.O. Box 1165 Cambridge OH 43725, www.hospiceofguernsey.com; or Second Harvest Food Bank P.O. Box 4039 Manteca CA 95337, www.localfoodbank.org.