Wayne Balch Thalasinos Sr.

Born in 1938 in Claremont, New Hampshire, Wayne was tenth of ten children of Christos and Helen (Balch) Thalasinos. From an early age, he cherished raising pets at home in town and tending animals on a farm on nearby steep hills. He was deeply proud that five of his siblings served in the military during World War II, and he followed in their footsteps by enlisting in the U.S. Navy after graduating high school in 1956. He served on seven different diesel-electric submarines as Torpedoman’s Mate and ultimately as Chief of the Boat. He declined an opportunity for Officer Candidate School because he cared so much for his fellow enlisted men.

Wayne loved his wife Elaine. After fifteen years of friendship, they decided they belonged together for a lifetime, and joined their lives in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in 1966. He enjoyed antique cars--especially Model A Fords. As a recently married couple, they took out a loan to buy a dilapidated 1928 Roadster Pickup in 1968. The couple’s teamwork over four years restored Beulah into a beautiful hobby car to enjoy over generations, and their three children grew up in the back of the Model A. Wayne and Elaine helped establish the Model A’s of Greater Orlando club in 1987.

Wayne also loved God. He read the Holy Bible and spiritual reflections daily, and his favorite scripture passage was Micah 6:8. On his retirement day in 1979 as Command Master Chief Petty Officer of Naval Training Center, Orlando, he surprised the family with a service at the base chapel where he received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. He and Elaine served the parish as Eucharistic Ministers for several years.

Wayne enjoyed time in the great outdoors. He and Elaine raised a family who enjoyed camping and Scouting adventures together. In 1997 after his second and third careers with SENCO of Florida and Hermann Englemann Greenhouses, Wayne and Elaine fulfilled their dream of fifth-wheel RV camping in 49 states of the USA and 8 provinces of Canada, and visiting over 80 National Parks and lands.

Wayne loved his six grandchildren. From diapers through diplomas, he cherished time with each of them as they played and learned and grew into well-rounded adults who hold him in their hearts.

After seven years of treating spots on his skin, Wayne was diagnosed in 2005 with an invasive skin cancer that progressed into his lungs. Early in his treatment journey, he read about and adopted the philosophy that “cancer might kill me, but I won’t let it ruin my life.” Through the grace of God, the team at Moffitt Cancer Center, and the support of family and friends, his years of enjoying life after diagnosis continued many times longer than statistics expected.

Wayne is survived by his sister Louisa (Thalasinos) Paquette, wife Elaine George Thalasinos, three children and their spouses, and six grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Wednesday 2/19/25 from 6:00-8:00pm at Baldwin-Fairchild Goldenrod Funeral Home at 7520 Aloma Avenue. Funeral Mass will be on Thursday 2/20/25 at 10:30am in the chapel at the rear of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church at 5300 Old Howell Branch Road. Gravesite will be at noon at Glen Haven Memorial Park at 2300 Temple Drive.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, at https://www.moffitt.org/lp/experts/?campaign=567103 in memory of Wayne.