The Muskoka  baseball community lost  a  great baseball person  this week  with the  passing  of Wayne Forsythe on Wednesday October 4, 2017.  Wayne was  well known in Muskoka baseball as a member of the Hornets Board and as an umpire for local slow pitch and fastball leagues as well as the Muskoka Hornets minor  baseball program.  For Wayne, umpiring was not  about the money, it was  about helping  kids learn to play a game  and to enjoy time with friends - he never took  a penny when he umpired house league. 

Wayne kept  a very low profile and, like any good umpire,  was hardly noticeable at  the diamond.  In fact,  his pet  peeve  was umpires  on a power trip that would act overly aggressive in situations that did not require such action.   That said, Wayne disliked poor sportsmanship and demanded respect for the game and its participants.

Wayne  was humble to a fault.  When our Board decided to name an umpire award after Wayne, he refused as he did not want the attention.  Well, Wayne – too bad now as from this day forward our annual junior umpire award will be known as the "Wayne Forsythe Junior Umpire of the Year."  

Wayne Forsythe – Rest in Peace our great friend.  Enjoy your next plate meeting with coaches in the baseball game in the sky.  We will miss you.

Family will receive visitors on Sunday, October 15th from  1:30 pm to 3:30 pm at the Royal Canadian Legion, 290 Veteran's Way, Gravenhurst.   Tributes and Eulogies starting at 2 pm.