Wayne Thomas Whistler

Wayne Thomas Whistler died Dec. 24 in Fredericksburg, Texas after a four-year battle with dementia brought on by both heart and Type 1 diabetes complications. He was 72.

Whistler was born in Oakland, but his formative years were spent living in San Diego where he was an avid surfer. He started his career in optics in the mid-1960s in the Boston area. After several cold winters, he decided to move back to the Bay Area. He joined Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 1971 where he continued his career working with optics for the next 35-plus years, retiring in 2007.

He was interested in bike riding, hiking, fishing, gardening and volunteering at the Veterans Hospital in Livermore. In 2010, he decided he wanted a quieter and more open place to live so he moved to Blanco, Texas near his sister.

Whistler is survived by two daughters, Lorena Olive of Dublin and Lisa Whistler of Livermore; two sisters, Joan Anderson of Blanco, Texas and Judy Sherman of Mountain Center, California as well as stepdaughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 2020 5th St., Livermore on Jan. 11. at 3 p.m. Donations may be made to a charity of your choice.