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Wayne Naillon will be remembered on the forest trails he loved most


Wayne Naillon in a familiar pose.(Photo courtesy Dale Latham)
Wayne Naillon in a familiar pose.
(Photo courtesy Dale Latham)

When Wayne Naillon chose to end his life back in May, the region lost one of its most dedicated cycling advocates. Now his name will remain connected to the places and trails he loved thanks to funds created in his name by friends and family.

From Cycle Oregon to Sunday Parkways — and from the Wilson River Trail to the Crown Zellerbach Trail, Naillon donated hundreds of volunteer hours during his lifetime. He had a special place in his heart for off-road trails and was a regular volunteer with the Northwest Trail Alliance. Wayne was also a BikePortland subscriber who I first met while doing a trail maintenance event in the Tillamook State Forest in 2005 (a fact he reminded me of last year in a comment he left on a story about the Wilson River Trail).

Last week we heard from Wayne’s friend Dale Latham with details about how he’ll be remembered:

We are honored with the huge support we have received in Wayne’s’ memory. This includes:

1. A donation of $2,500 by Lenore LaTour to the Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust in Wayne’s memory. The trust plans to place a log bench in Wayne’s honor on the Wilson River Trail.

2. A donation of $3,000 to Kinship House by the Windermere Foundation on behalf of Lenore LaTour. Kinship House is a Portland non-profit that provides out-patient mental health services to children and their families. Kinship House plans to name a therapy play room in Wayne’s honor. Lenore was a friend and neighbor of Wayne’s and did an outstanding job of selling his Irvington home for his estate. She is donating a portion of her commission from Windermere Stellar in Wayne’s memory. This donation is especially meaningful to the people who knew Wayne as a life-long professional in mental health and advocate of disadvantaged youth. Wayne cared for over 60 foster kids out of his Irvington home after graduating from college and finished his 40 year career as a counselor for Multnomah County Mental Health and Addiction Services.

3. Over $6,000 in donations from many of you, friends and family, to the Wayne Naillon Trail Fund at US Bank. We will be spending that money to support trail maintenance on the Tillamook State Forest and Crown Zellerbach Trail in Columbia County.

4. The Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust is in the process of creating a tax-deductible Tillamook State Forest Trails Fund in Wayne’s memory. The fund will be used for planning, design, construction and maintenance of trails on the Tillamook. The Trust plans to have an account at US Bank established by December 16, in case you are interested in a 2016 donation. Contact Dale Latham for more information at daleslatham@gmail.com.

Wayne was a great person who lived much of his life in service of others. We’re grateful that his name will live on in the forested places he cared so much about.

— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org

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