Marion E. "Bud" Wacaser Jr.

55, of Tampa, passed away on Friday, November 20th at TGH where he had been a patient since receiving a heart transplant on September 11, 2015. Born in Naples, Bud grew up in Florida, but graduated from Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas in 1978. He returned to Florida in 1982, and worked at Sims Crane & Equipment from 1983 to 1992, then at Reynolds Metals, subsequently Ball Corporation, where he served as Environmental Health and Safety Manager up until the day of his transplant. Bud received his Bachelors’ degree from the USF in December 1995 and was a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers. While his professional career was spent in Safety and Environmental Compliance, he had a passion for cooking and easily mastered dishes from all over the world and delighted in sharing delicious food with family and friends, including his cardiologist of 9 years, Dr. Debbie Rinde-Hoffman. Bud was preceded in death by his father, the Rev. Marion E. Wacaser, Sr. He is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Kathleen Barry-Wacaser; children: Daniel, Spencer, and Eve Wacaser, all of Tampa; mother, Mary (Winifred) Wacaser; sisters Phyllis (Rick) Rea of Fort White, FL and Candace (Jerry) Nichols of Valrico, FL; sisters-in law Patricia (Chuck Secord) Barry of Lockport, NY and Maureen (Kate Sanel) Barry of Austin, TX, Goddaughter Miriam Cone of St. Petersburg, FL, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family wishes to thank everyone at TGH for their care, particularly the staff in the Cardiothoracic ICU and everyone associated with TGH’s Heart Transplant Program. The services for Bud will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Bud’s name to the TGH Foundation for the “Help a Heart” fund, established to provide funding for short-term expenses such as medications, gas money to travel to medical appointments and funeral expenses for heart transplant and VAD patients with established financial hardship. Donations may be made by mail (PO Box 1289, Tampa, FL 33601) or online (TGH.org\Foundation). Arrangements handled by Blount & Curry MacDill, 813-876-2421.