Wayne Tiffany, a memorable character

Wayne Tiffany lost a brief but intense battle with colon cancer yesterday at 2:20 pm. This is the second SolidWorks user group leader friend that I’ve lost to this disease. Judy Palmiter of the Charlottesville, VA group was taken a couple of years ago.

Wayne was a distinctly memorable guy. As a user group leader, he had a lot of drive and enthusiasm. As a member of the SolidWorks forums, he was always helpful and informative, very knowledgeable especially on sheet metal topics. I understand that he was a technical editor for The Sheet Metal Guy series of SolidWorks books. You really couldn’t help but like Wayne. I served on the SolidWorks User Group Committee with him for a few years, and he definitely had a passion for helping people, and sharing his knowledge.

One story about Wayne that a lot of people may remember was one year at SolidWorks World, we were having a meeting with all the user group leaders. The regional user group reps each had to make a presentation. My presentation came after his. He stood up and gave a very impassioned delivery about why we need user groups, why we volunteer our time for user groups, and the personal and professional advantages we all get from participating. He obviously loved what he did. It wasn’t easy to follow a speech like that, so I didn’t try to compete.

Wayne will certainly be missed by his family, which I never met, but he will also be missed by his SolidWorks family. SW World cannot be the same without Wayne’s “Why I do This and not That” style sheet metal presentations. To read about his struggle, go to Caring Bridge. So long, good friend.

14 Replies to “Wayne Tiffany, a memorable character”

  1. It has been a while since we’ve talked, Matt, and I am saddened that as I browse your site I found this news. I knew Wayne, as well, and I send my condolences to family and friends.

  2. Actually reading elsewhere I think I may have that wrong. His daughter got married a couple of years ago…
    For some reason I remembered seeing Wayne in a wedding photo, oh well, my mistake, sorry about that 😉

  3. Wayne was a terrific individual whom I will miss. He was a natural leader and was very generous with his time within the SolidWorks and PDM community. My thoughts and prayers will be with his family and friends.

  4. Another tough loss to read about in the SW family. Wayne was such a positive advocate; always there to help out in the promotion of SolidWorks when called upon. Little known fact, ASI & Wayne were the first to adopt Conisio/EPDM in North America at the beginning. I will miss him.

  5. Simply said, Wayne was a class act who will be missed by the SolidWorks community.
    My prayers are with his family….

  6. Very unfortunate. Didn’t know him other than through SW forums, but I always though he was a good fellow. Didnt he get married only last year or the one before? Tough break all round. Perhaps we could honour him by instituting a Wayne Tiffany SWW Award for …well I’m not sure what’s best, but something appropriate to nature of the man and his interests.

  7. I am so glad that I was able to talk with Wayne at SWW. I also met him in Kansas City- such a great and warm guy.
    Rest in peace friend.

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