Wayne LaGue, 77, of Wareham, MA passed away in his home on November 1, 2024 with loved ones by his side. He was born March 17, 1947 in Acushnet, MA to Alexander and Marie (Giel) LaGue. He spent his early years and attended school in New Bedford, MA. Wayne was a life-long scholar who earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Oxford University and a doctoral degree at Boston University. He began his professional career as an innovative and much admired fourth/fifth grade teacher in Duxbury, MA. Some 40 years later he stills hears from those students. He went on to become a curriculum director for the Somerville, MA school department. His final gifts to education were as superintendents in both Revere, MA and Wareham, MA.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Christy Gunnels LaGue, his sons Adam Jeremiah (Maura), Kristian Alexandre (partner Kristen), his daughters Susan (Matthew) Sinclair, Elizabeth (Barry Nogay) Ramsay, and Bonnie (Chad) Frost, his grandchildren Morgan, Tanith and Vanessa Ramon-Ibarra, Priscilla, Isabelle and Thomas Sinclair, Duncan Whitney, and cousin Alice LaGue. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was predeceased in death by his parents, sister Gayle, and wives Ellen Sweeney and Priscilla Ramsay.

Wayne was a tender, compassionate and empathetic humanitarian with eclectic interests. He retired in Wareham and developed a passion for gardening. Each year, in the dark of winter, under grow lights in his basement, he coaxed from seed what would become the following summer’s bumper crop of flowers and vegetables. His tomato “trees” were legendary. He ran the Boston Marathon two- and one-half times, as he said. He was a better than average carpenter, cook and chipmunk trapper. He and Christy traveled throughout Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. During lengthy visits to Europe, they explored Shakespeare’s world, the music and milieu of Bach, and in all their travels, enjoyed the visual arts and local customs.

A favorite destination was County Sligo, Ireland to visit the home and grave of Wayne’s beloved poet, William Butler Yeats, and the Lake Isle of Innisfree.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree, William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Wayne’s name may be made to the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Southcoast Visiting Nurses Association, or Damien’s Place Food Pantry.