Wayne Valentine (1939–2023)

Long time Dover High School teacher and coach, Wayne Valentine, 84, of Mt Arlington, NJ, died at his home at Mt. Arlington Senior Living from the effects of Vascular Dementia on December 26th, 2023.

He was born in Dover, NJ in 1939 to Elva and Anthony Valentine. He attended Dover High School before studying history at Rocky Mountain College. He went on to become a teacher and coach at Dover High School remaining there for most of his career.

Wayne met his wife, Sylvia, through a friend who lived next door to her in Lake Hopatcong where her family had a summer house on the lake. They were married in 1964 after Wayne graduated from college. They remained happily married for 56 years and had 3 children, Toni Ann, Randy and Calvin.  Sylvia died in 2020 of pancreatic cancer while they were living in Tennessee with their son Calvin.  Soon after, Wayne returned to New Jersey where he resided at Mt. Arlington Senior Living where he could be closer to friends and family.  

Wayne will always be remembered for his dedication to running sports at the high school level whether through coaching, officiating or covering the events as a writer for the Daily Record and other local newspapers.  It was his mother, Elva, a track athlete herself in high school, who directed him to running which would become his life’s passion. An accomplished runner himself, he was a cross country county champion in high school, he lived his life to pass on his passion for running to those he coached.

Wayne had a great love of Dover, his sports, and all involved. He would travel often, always accompanied by his loving wife Sylvia, and usually by his athletes. Wayne could seldom travel without running into someone he knew, even when he was far from home. He always remembered his students and athletes, even decades after he last saw them. And he remained close with many of them throughout the years. And when he did talk to an old friend, student, or athlete, there was usually stories of old to be told.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife Sylvia, and is survived by his children, Toni Ann, Randy and Calvin as well as thirteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and his sisters Jeanette and Alyce.

A memorial service for both Wayne and Sylvia is planned for Wednesday, January 3rd, 2:00 pm at the First Memorial Presbyterian Church in Dover, NJ where both Wayne and Sylvia were active members for most of their lives.  The church is located at 51 West Blackwell St, Dover, NJ 07945

In lieu of flowers, donations to one of these organizations, First Memorial Presbyterian Church of Dover, Alzheimer's Association, Dementia Society, or the American Cancer Society, would be greatly appreciated. 

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