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On July 9, 2025, my brother Wayne Horiuchi passed away, just short of his 73rd birthday (July 10th). He died of a horrible disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). My brother excelled in everything he pursued. My earliest memory was his love of skiing, at the age of 5 while we lived in Japan. As we grew up in Marin County, California, we would go on annual ski trips to Lake Tahoe, and later in life, he had a second home in Truckee, CA, where he and his family enjoyed many winters skiing. He was very outgoing and loved by so many. I remember when we lived in Japan, our grandfather would come to visit. My grandfather would only have to mention Wayne’s name (Ken-chan, as he was known in Japan) and everyone would know how to direct him to our house. He played baseball on the YBA little league team. His position was shortstop. Our family enjoyed seeing him play. He was so cool. He took up tennis, when he was in grade school and spent summers in tennis classes and playing tennis. He would continue to play tennis the rest of his life, becoming one of the top California senior tennis players. At Stanford, he played with Sally Ride, who was one year ahead of him, but she would play male opponents to improve her game. He would have been on the High School tennis team, but Coach Basham, at Redwood High School, challenged him to a tennis match, hoping to convenience him to join Track and Field. Although Wayne won the match, Coach Bashum was successful in luring Wayne to join the Track and Field and Cross Country teams. Wayne went on to hold many records at Redwood High School. Throughout his life he ran many marathons and races. He was a Probate Referee, where he had a 5 out 5-star rating. He was sought by many California residents for his expertise in estate planning. Later in life he started fishing, and it became his passion. He would go to Christmas Island, Canada, Colorado, Florida, Argentina, and many many more places to fish. He had a group of f ishing buddies that went several times a year. Our mother never understood, why he never brought fish home. I miss him dearly.
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Jan Diamond
I have remembered Wayne as my smiling boyfriend when we were 6 years old, and lived a few doors down from me in Ross, before his family moved away. We were the 2 shortest kids in the class. I have this strong memory of having dinner at his house - we were 6 I think - and being so embarrassed when his Mom asked me to say Grace and I didn't know what to say. He disappeared friom my life shortly when he must have moved to Kentfield. I'm so sorry to hear about his difficult disease and passing.
Nicholas Suntzeff
Wayne was one of our group who went on to Stanford in 1970. It was nice having a group of friends when you enter university and find yourself intimidated and with imposter syndrome. Wayne had a grace which is hard to describe. I did not see him much after Stanford as my life took me far away from the Bay Area. But the last time I saw him, at Mike Kast's house in PA, it was as if no time had passed since I had seen him.
George Carewe
I first met Wayne in 1958 in kindergarten at Ross School. We were immediate friends at the tender age of 6, I think Jan Diamond was better friends though! I still have my 1958-1961 class pictures from Ross School. Jan, I do not remember if you are aware of this, but in the 1959 and 1961 class pictures guess who is standing behind you in both of these class pictures? When his family left Ross to move to Kentfield we lost touch of each other. We semi rekindled our friendship at Redwood High School. Wayne always amazed me with his demeanor, his smarts and just a fun guy to be around. I am sorry to hear about his medical condition, too many of the great ones have left us too soon.
Tom Estudillo
I remember Wayne very well, although I think it was mostly sophomore year. We were on the track team together. He was a fluid runner, smooth and fast. Quick with a laugh. Very nice guy. A tough and determined runner. We didn't train together, but I always watched him run the mile in league meets as I walked around the track, recovering from my 440 yard dash. He ran on the varsity squad that year, but he was bumped down to the "B" team, as were a few other teammates. The varsity squad was stacked, and won the MCAL league meet. The B team was stacked, and also won the MCAL Leage meet.
As a freshman runner, he held the record for the quarter mile, the mile, and the 440 relay, He was on the mile relay team in 1968 that set the Class B and the school record. Tom Poppin and Tom Richards and I were the other runners.
Wayne had so many accomplishments during his stellar lifetime. I wanted to tell the alumni of his feats using his feet!
Richard Stoltze
The news of Wayne‘s passing caught me by surprise and profound sadness.
Dick Stoltze
Steven Filante
Thanks Dick. Your letter really brought back those days.
Lynne Volk (Keller)
I was so sad to hear about Wayne's death. I met him during high school through mutual friends. I always thought he was a kind, funny and wickedly smart guy a well as being an excellent tennis player and cross country runner. We seem to be at the age where life is too short and some of the best leave too soon. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
George Carewe
Reading through all of these tributes and memories of Wayne has brought one thing to me, how quite a few of us took up the sport of fly fishing. I have been doing it now for 65 years and find it to be nirvana. I dry fly fish only, use no barbs and felease everything I catch hoping that I may see that same fish one more time down the road. Yes, I have traveled to many places to fish but my heart still lies in Oregon, I love fishing the Deschutes, the Williamson and the Rogue Rivers, but down deep my greatest love is fly fishing with guides I have used for so many years on the McKenzie River and the Coast fork of the Willamette above Oakridge. Only wish I had known that Wayne also loved to do this.
Perry Fine (Fine)
Like so many others, I got to know Wayne through athletics. I recall trying out for cross country as a freshman, and Wayne made me feel like I was standing still...correction: like I was running backwards. From that point of view, his grace and fluidity were obvious and convinced me of two things: he would excel; and I better choose a different sport. Reading the posted comments, it appears, unsurprisingly , that Wayne led his life like he ran. Kindest regards and condolences to Wayne's family, and to all his many friends, admirer's and acquaintances along the way.Ross Beaton
So, so very hard to hear about. My memories of Wayne start in early Ross Grammer School days. We hung out and played together alot as I had a late November birthday, they didn't hold kids back in those days, so I was always the youngest, and like Jan, shortest kids in the class back then. I remember eating with his family too and playing some tennis, along with board games and general running around, always happy and laughing. Memories of Redwood and being on the track team. To be clear, I was not recruited, nor a star, but hey, it was a no cut sport! Watching Wayne run was always beautiful. He was focused and always gave it 110% effort. Alwyas striving to get better, post another personal best, help the team win, not ribbons and medals. As someone mentioned earlier, it looks like he led his life that way. I'm not surprised.
Others mention too about his love of fly fishing. How I too wished we could have done that together. George and I will be fishing the McKenzie and Willamette rivers this October and hope to release a beautiful trout or steelhead for Wayne to fish for wherever it is all the really good people go upon leaving us. Tight lines Wayne.