Wayne G. Sanborn, 84, of Bridgton passed peacefully from this life on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 with his beloved wife, Pam, by his side after suffering complications from Covid-19. 

Born in Bridgton on July 20, 1936, Wayne grew up in the same house on Cottage Street, the only son of Charlie, a mechanic at Staley Chevrolet, and Bertha Kimball Sanborn, who worked for Dr. Hatch. In his youth, he enjoyed baseball, basketball, football, golf and skiing and made lifelong friends through his sporting interests. Childhood friends Dave Davis, Ron Oberg, Bruce Chalmers and Gene Stuart remained part of his life until the end. Wayne loved his hometown and was a lifelong reader of the Bridgton News.  

Wayne graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Public Management followed by a master’s degree in Municipal Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. A lifelong civil servant, he served two stints as city manager for DeLand, Fla. from 1967-1974 and again from 1992 until his retirement in 1999. In between, he developed both residential and commercial properties as president of Brandywine Enterprises.

A man of faith, who valued lifelong friendships and time with his family, Wayne measured visits by when they could all be together again at “Camp Sanborn” in Norway. Although he had many personal accomplishments, Wayne was perhaps most proud of his children: Rhonda, Randy, Russell and Renee; his stepdaughters, Sabrina and Stephanie; and his 19 grandchildren. He believed investing in his local community was a lasting legacy for his family.

A service of remembrance was held on Feb. 8, 2021. Flags flew at half-staff over the City Hall in DeLand, Fla. and also at the Wayne G. Sanborn Activities Center, honoring the man who “helped make DeLand a better community.” Wayne would have been the first to say that much of what he learned about the importance of community came from growing up in Bridgton.