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RIP - Wayne Coombs |
TikiHardBop
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Feb 21, 2009
Posts: 355
From: Rockledge, FL
|  Posted: 2012-09-04 12:45 pm Permalink
We have information coming in from various sources that Wayne Coombs has passed. I'll post more information as I get it. A real loss to the community.
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TornadoTiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 14, 2008
Posts: 15
From: Florida's Space Coast
| Posted: 2012-09-04 12:47 pm Permalink
I am very sad to report that Wayne Coombs has died. The founder of Mai Tiki, he was a huge personality and a tremendous influence on tiki art in Florida and beyond. I interviewed him several times. His importance to art on the Space Coast and the identity of Cocoa Beach can't be underestimated. All that said, personally, he was a hoot - a force of nature who loved tiki, who loved art, who loved the beach. He always had an eye for a sale, and his customers loved buying his work, because his heart was in it. I'll miss him.
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AceExplorer
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 299
From: Deep in the Jacksonville Florida jungle.
| Posted: 2012-09-04 12:50 pm Permalink
Wow, that's tragic, the gravity of this loss is not easy to comprehend... Condolences to his family, many friends, and co-workers. I have a Mai Tiki carving prominently displayed in my kitchen and will fondly remember the hours I spent with Wayne choosing "the right carving" and also discussing his initial foray into other printed art.
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WestADad
Grand Member (2 years)
Joined: Mar 31, 2009
Posts: 731
From: Tornado Alley
| Posted: 2012-09-04 1:08 pm Permalink
Very sad indeed, my condolences to the family.
Found this quickly searching.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120904/ENTERTAINMENT06/120904020/Wayne-Coombs-talented-charismatic-tiki-artist-dies
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McTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 22, 2004
Posts: 1933
From: Sunny Florida
| Posted: 2012-09-04 1:10 pm Permalink
RIP Mai Tiki!
McTiki
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TornadoTiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 14, 2008
Posts: 15
From: Florida's Space Coast
| Posted: 2012-09-04 1:43 pm Permalink
If you want to see one of the video interviews I did with Wayne when I worked at Florida Today, go to this page and scroll down - it's fourth from the bottom. It shows him making a tiki puppet.
http://www.chriskridler.com/galleries/video/
[ This Message was edited by: TornadoTiki 2012-09-04 13:50 ]
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tiki_kiliki
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Apr 01, 2002
Posts: 988
From: Hamtown USA
| Posted: 2012-09-04 1:58 pm Permalink
Such a good friend and frequent contributor to The Hukilau. I'll treasure the times I had with him at his awesome compound. This years Hukilau will be dedicated to his memory.....
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Yee-Haw & Aloha,
The Hukilau
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Tipsy McStagger
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 21, 2004
Posts: 3388
From: HELL
| Posted: 2012-09-04 2:30 pm Permalink
horrible- I just emailed him a couple weeks ago because my wife and i were planning on visiting him soon. Never was there an indication that anything was wrong and he was looking forward to our visit since i had not seen him in a few years.... I can't believe he's gone. He was a great inspiration. The first carved tiki i ever bought was from wayne..... he will be missed.
I need a maitai..... right now.
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Formikahini
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 1491
From: Houston, Texotica
| Posted: 2012-09-04 4:34 pm Permalink
Noooooo!
This is shocking!
He was SUCH a nice guy - and loving artist, meaning he loved his art. He loved creating.
This is a real loss.
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tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2079 | Posted: 2012-09-04 4:42 pm Permalink
He was a great guy.
RIP.
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TikiTomD
Grand Member (3 years) 
Joined: Sep 20, 2009
Posts: 629
From: Flagler Beach, FL
| Posted: 2012-09-04 5:30 pm Permalink
So very sad... Wayne was the godfather of Space Coast Tiki. His works provided the thematic element in so many area establishments, extending up the coast to include even such mid-century icons as the Makai Beach Lodge in Ormond Beach. RIP, Wayne.
-Tom
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Matiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 52
From: The island of Michigan
| Posted: 2012-09-04 5:38 pm Permalink
Wow, very sad news. He treated me and my Family very nicely when we paid him a visit while staying at the Wakulla Suites in Cocoa Beach. Planty of his work will live on all over the state fo Florida and beyond
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tikivox
Member
Joined: Apr 27, 2008
Posts: 4
From: TN
| Posted: 2012-09-04 6:35 pm Permalink
It was just a few months ago when I last spoke with Wayne. He was a great artist as well as a person. My condolences go out to Becky and the rest of his family. He will be missed.
[ This Message was edited by: tikivox 2012-09-04 18:38 ]
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sneakyjack
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 25, 2004
Posts: 988
From: NYC Area
| Posted: 2012-09-04 7:12 pm Permalink
Sucky...
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4WDtiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 03, 2004
Posts: 1729
From: Omao, Kauai
| Posted: 2012-09-04 9:22 pm Permalink
Whoa, terrible!
Along with countless other beginning tiki carvers, HIS style was the look that I used as "reference" when I was starting out.
R.I.P Wayne.
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