Wayne Lawrence Organ

Born in Seattle, Wayne moved with his parents, Dawn and Larry Organ, to Southern California as a young child. He spent his youth living along the coast in South Laguna Beach. Even then he had a strong interest in music, playing the flute in his band, No Commercial Potential.

After moving up to the San Francisco Bay Area in his 20’s and studying music at Sonoma State College, he transferred to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and completed his Bachelor of Music degree, studying under Barry Jekowsy. During these years he composed, studied and practiced tirelessly and, as a freelance percussionist, performed with local orchestras, lyric operas and musical theatres.

Moving south to San Diego in the mid-1980’s, he met the love of his life, Deborah Anne Ward, known as Annie. Two years later they married and headed off on an extended honeymoon, traveling through Europe. That mutual love of travel took them many places over the 41 years they were together. After his mother passed away suddenly the Organs, then in their mid-30’s, decided to take the road-trip around America that she’d always hoped to do someday. Packing their pets into her marigold VW Westfalia camper, they headed off again, spending 21 months traveling through Canada and the United States.

Back in the Bay Area in 1991, Wayne returned to school, earning his Master of Arts, Music at California State University, Hayward. He taught at Solano Community College and in 1996 was hired as academic professor of music and Music Department Chair at Contra Costa Community College in San Pablo. Wayne taught there for 22 years. He had a deep commitment to each one of his students, and positively impacted many of their lives. He also served as the Academic Senate President. During that time, the Organs lived in El Cerrito, in a little house with a frog pond and a view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

In 2018, he retired and with Annie, already retired from UC Berkeley, moved up to Seattle, where they found their dream home. In Seattle, he found many fellow musicians to play with and became interested in the Brazilian musical style of choro, playing the pandeiro, the tamborim and the rebolo. Although diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2021, Wayne continued to live life to the fullest for the following 5 years, ever upbeat and optimistic, performing up until days before he passed. The Organs took yearly trips to Europe and getaways to their favorite Hawaiian island, Kauai. He also designed and built his own music studio. He played regularly with the choro group Choranda na Chuva, and with Grupo Onda Verde, performing at the annual BrasilFest and Northwest Folklife Festivals at Seattle Center, and he played every week with Dina Blade’s Bossa Joía Trio. He also performed as a guest with local swing bands.

Personable and well-liked, Wayne made many strong friendships. He was funny and playful, kind and considerate, dedicated and smart. He was always ready to lend a hand or volunteer to take on a project. His favorite sayings were certainly “Let me help you with that,” or “It could have been worse,” or “No, I love you more.” In addition to his passion for music, Wayne loved their many precious cats, VW campers, the Russian River, kayaking, working in his shop, exploring the Pacific Northwest, and adventuring to old geocaches with his wife.

Wayne will be truly missed by all who knew him. He leaves behind his wife Annie, who knows that she is going to love him forever. Also surviving Wayne are his sister-in-law Betsy Ward, his nephew Alex Schajatovic, his cousins Lee, Brian and Gordy Cosner and Beth Lohr, and all of their spouses and extended family.

A roda de choro jam to celebrate his life will take place at his home on October 24th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the ACLU.