Wayne A. Barcomb

1933 - 2016

Wayne A. Barcomb died on October 26, 2016, after an 8-year battle with mixed dementia. Born January 13, 1933, in North Adams, Wayne graduated with a B.A. in political science from the University of Mass., Amherst in 1955, where he was a member of Theta Chi. He served in the U.S. Army in the Counter Intelligence Corps. After military service he entered a long career in college textbook publishing in Boston. First with Allyn and Bacon in sales, editorial, then General Manager of the college division and international division. For Wadsworth, Inc. he started Kent Publishing. He retired from PWS-Kent as President, and Vice President of the Executive Council for Wadsworth, Inc./Thompson International. He also served as chairman of the Higher Education Division of the Association of American Publishers. While living in Boston he wrote freelance book reviews for the Boston Herald and theatre reviews for The Patriot Ledger, Quincy. He also acted in some 40 productions at both the professional and community theatre level. In 1992, he moved to Sarasota, Fla., where he started a new career as a writer. He wrote 4 novels, 2 of which, Blood Tide and Under Current, were mysteries based in Sarasota; for SRQ magazine he wrote theater reviews Standing Room Only, and a personality column, Your Neighbor Next Door; and theater reviews for The Pelican Press. He was the recipient of three writing awards, name them and the Season of Caring/Sharing? Wayne was a lifelong inveterate tennis player and member of the Liars Club. Wayne leaves his wife Susan; children, Scott Barcomb, Melissa (Ken) Doyle, David Barcomb; grandchildren, Carolyn (Alec) Strickland, Emmie Barcomb, Scottie Barcomb, Theodore Barcomb, Sarah Barcomb, Davey Barcomb, Kate Barcomb; and great-grandchild, Breck Saunders; and his brother, William (Betty Jean) Barcomb for Murrells Inlet, S.C. Services will be held at Siesta Key Chapel on November 11, at 1 p.m. Interment will be at the Cohasset Central Cemetery at a later date. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.