Wayne Rose was humble, wise, full of life, kind, chased his dreams and found the love of his life.
That’s how friends and family of the skydiver remembered him as they celebrated his life at Salt Pond Beach Park on Saturday evening.
“He never settled for an ordinary life, and he encouraged everyone around him to do the same,” said Autumn Rose, Wayne’s twin sister. “Believe me when I tell you, that for the nearly 27 years on Earth, Wayne lived more than most people did in a lifetime.”
Wayne Rose died in a plane crash Monday, along with four others.
Gladys Jacinto and her daughter Jessica skydived with Rose and Enzo Amitrano (another skydive instructor aboard the fatal plane crash) on March 28. Gladys said the pair made them feel comfortable during their first-ever skydive.
“That day I really did feel like I was flying,” Jacinto said. “They were so professional and they loved what they were doing, so that’s what made their love go into the people who do it with them.”
Kaela Rose, Wayne’s widow, was overwhelmed with the community’s support.
“The help everybody’s given us has been incredible. I actually have no words,” she said. “So many people have reached out to us.”
If Wayne was here, she said, he would be so impressed, proud and humble.
“The outpouring from this community is amazing. I never seen such benevolence,” said Nicholas Grima, Wayne’s father-in-law. “I’m happy for my daughter that people reached out, and people said, ‘We’re not your friends; we’re your family.’”
Steve Rose, Wayne’s father, said his son “always accomplished his goals.”
“We knew when he wanted to buy that camper and move out west, we knew, certainly from our point of view, there was no stopping him,” he said. “Wayne was always to kind of person that was a leader among his friends. He was always a doer, leading the charges … and everybody was better because of it.”
Debbie Grima, Wayne’s mother-in-law, said Wayne had wisdom beyond his years.
“Wayne always had a statement: People would say, ‘Man, you jump out of a plane everyday. Are you crazy’? He goes, ‘That’s why I jump out of them. I don’t like them.’” she said. “He said they’re mechanical and unpredictable. I truly believe if Wayne had any control of that situation, he would still be here.”
Nicholas said he’s never before seen somebody with such a kind heart.
“What he shared with us in the last three years we’ve to know him is just absolutely incredible,” he said. “He was smart. He planned everything. If something went wrong, he had a plan for it.”
Kaela said she did achieve some peace when she heard all the good things everyone said about Wayne.
“Even if it was just a smile when he passed you in the community or a quick exchange at the grocery store, you could feel and see the magnitude of his greatness,” she said. “Wayne was so humble, a new word should be created for him just to define it, which only added to his brilliance.”
