Wayne passed away peacefully on Aug. 26, 2023, at age 89, with his loving wife, Margaret Todd, at his side.
He was born in Hamilton, Ont., to Archibald and Beatrice Watson and grew up in Chatham, Ont. Wayne’s father, a Bernardo orphan from Northern Ireland, arrived in Canada at age eight and worked on farms throughout his childhood. At fifteen, with help from a local librarian, he learned to read, passing on to Wayne his lifelong love of literature.
After getting his BA Honours, then Master of Psychology, Wayne went into medicine, graduating from the University of Western Ontario in 1965. He worked as a general practitioner which, to his delight, included delivering 300 babies, then years later continued his education at the University of Toronto, graduating in psychiatry in 1973.
His practice ranged from working at Sandy Lake First Nation, to acting as Chief of Psychiatry at York Central, to working as a forensic psychiatrist in the criminal justice system. In spite of his many accomplishments, Wayne never forgot the lessons from his father, and brought to his practice humility, gratitude, and above all, kindness.
His extensive knowledge of film and art served him well during trivia games. He loved to laugh, to sail, to ride his 750 Kawasaki, but most of all, he loved and was so proud of his two sons.
He is survived by Margaret, his soulmate of 31 years, his sons, John David (predeceased 1998) and Paul Robert (Cathie), grandson, Patrick, his sister, Molly Maureen Maguire (Howard), both predeceased, and his brother, Gregory Jan (Barbara, predeceased), Margaret’s sons, Ben and Josh (Erica) and grandchildren, Robert, Ethan and Alysha. He also leaves nieces and nephews, Jeff (Kathy), Randy (Mary Lynne), Linda (Al), Susan (Steve) and their families.
Special thanks to Dr. Jamie Meuser for his kindness and support. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John D. Watson Memorial Scholarship, the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care or the Toronto Humane Society, for Wayne loved all creatures great and small. Condolences may be forwarded through the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles website.