Wayne Edward McSheehy

Wayne McSheehy was a world champion four times in the Olympic distance triathlon. An olympic distance race is a 1-mile swim, 25-mile bike, and a 10k run. He often shared this famous quote: If you slow down rounding the curves, you lose! And this is how he lived his life, full steam ahead!

Wayne McSheehy was born in Bath, Maine, on March 18, 1932, to Edward Gauvin, a professional boxer, and Mildred Estes, the prettiest girl in town. His grandparents doted on him, especially his grandfather who rocked him to sleep and put candy under his pillow.  Depression days were hard and there was not too much demand for boxers, so Nana Estes, (Wayne’s grandmother) came and got Wayne and Dale and his mom, Mildred, who was nicknamed “Mickey.” Later Mickey remarried Donald McSheehy, and the family moved to Mississippi. His new dad was in the civil service and was employed on air force bases, so they moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming and then to Fort Walton Beach, FL.

He attended college at Colorado State in Greeley on a swim scholarship after honing his skills in the waters of the Gulf Coast as a teenager. He worked as well, doing menial chores, such as spreading fertilizer on campus. While in college he also was a lifeguard and met Libby at the pool. Wayne married Libby Radel in 1960 and they settled in Fort Walton Beach, FL. He taught 6th grade at Eglin Elementary, became an assistant principal at Edwins Elementary, and principal at Silver Sands, a school for special needs students. While serving in that capacity Wayne and his PE coach, Rebecca Sears, brought the first Special Olympics to the state of Florida, in Fort Walton Beach. Later he was chosen to head up the new junior high serving Eglin AFB, Addie R. Lewis Junior High, and remained there until his retirement 25 years later. In 1983 Wayne and Libby joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were sealed for time and all eternity in the Atlanta Temple.

 Later that year Wayne started racing in triathlons.  At this time his son Sean bought him a bike so that Wayne could be his training partner. Sean knew his old man would become a premiere triathlete. He did the Ironman in Hawaii, and he was on all the USA teams until his 80’s becoming World Champion in the Olympic distance four times.  In the Church his first calling was in the Elder’s quorum presidency, then on the Stake High Council, driving to Pensacola for their weekly meetings and later as a counselor in the bishopric under Bishop Grant Adams and then under Bishop Bill Dorley.

 Libby and Wayne served in Wyoming on two handcart missions and later for 7 years as Church Education Missionaries. He always had a strong testimony of his Savior Jesus Christ and unwavering testimony of the teachings of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His favorite hymn is “Onward Christian Soldiers.” Wayne was noted for his untiring service, (remember, he never slowed down for the curves!) traveling to many areas to perform hurricane relief with his chainsaw, or flood cleanups, building visitor’s centers sites, or washing dishes for hours after a cultural event.

Wayne is survived by his wife Elizabeth McSheehy, (Libby) and their five children, Andrea Jackson, Robyn Hartman, Kevin McSheehy (wife Robin), Sean McSheehy, and Kelly Hall, (husband Gene) and the following grandchildren, Danielle Jackson, Tyler Hall, Taylor Delgado, (husband Daniel), Noah McSheehy, (wife Addie), Brooke McSheehy, Skyler McSheehy, Isabella McSheehy, Eugene Hall III, Wayne Hall, and great granddaughter Ellie Delgado. Wayne’s siblings, Dale Gauvin (wife Renata), Don McSheehy, (wife Carol), Kathryn “Katie” Pollien, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brothers Michael McSheehy, Joe Shaughnessy and Richard “Dick” Pollien, (brother in-law, Katie’s husband).

And as we bid goodbye to Wayne, remember, he never slowed down for the curves!

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