SKENE, Dennis Wayne

February 5, 1941 – July 5, 2015

On July 5, 2015, public broadcaster, journalist and author Wayne Skene (b. Winnipeg) passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness in Surrey B.C. He was predeceased by his parents, Richard and Jean Skene of Winnipeg, and he is survived by his spouse Connie Fabro, brother Barry Skene, and sons Cameron (Geeta Narang) and Christopher, as well as his granddaughters Delphine Skene and Asha Skene-Narang.

A man with varying interests, a vigorous presence and restless intellect, his path covered the wide swath of a fully-lived life: an award-winning athlete, a rigorous and passionate broadcaster with the CBC, and, finally, a sought-after author of several books on current affairs as well as biographies of prominent political figures.

He loved the majestic natural beauty of his adopted province British Columbia. His prairie-driven sense of fairness tempered and informed his work as a writer and broadcaster. His innate curiosity and tenaciousness drove him as deeply into a story as it did into the wilderness of the mountains or the expanses of the ocean. He will be sorely missed.

A Memorial Service will be held on July 23, at 3 p.m. at Beecher Place 12160 Beecher Street Crescent Beach, Surrey, B.C. Parking is very limited around Beecher Place. Additional parking is available at Alexandria Place or Blackie’s Spit. Donations in lieu of flowers or gifts can be made in accordance with his wishes, to either the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba (http://www.alzheimer.mb.ca/), or the Mile End Legal Clinic in Montreal (http://www.justicemontreal.org/en/).

www.arbutusfuneralservice.com (604-888-9895)

Published in Vancouver Sun and/or The Province on July 18, 2015

Bio

Wayne started at CBC in Ottawa during and after taking his Journalism degree at Carlton in 1973.  His professor at the time, Bill Terry then offered him a job in radio in Winnipeg.  From there he went on to Halifax as a documentary radio producer for programs including Concern.  Bill White lured him to CBC Radio Edmonton as Program Director. At the time, they moved the morning show into the No 1 spot.  After a brief recess from the CBC at ACCESS Alberta, he became Director of Television in Calgary. From Calgary, it was back to Edmonton as Regional Director.  Finally, Wayne came out to CBC Vancouver in 1988 as Director of Television and left in 1991.

Connie Fabro, 2015