Alexander Roy Bayne

Alexander (Alex) Bayne passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 30, 2022. Born in 1936, Alex grew up in and around London, England, with his parents, William and Dorothy, and older brother Bill. His childhood was marked by the bombings of London in World War II, evacuations to the countryside, and a decade of rationed food post-War. These events sparked several of Alex's passions?a love for train and plane spotting, snacks, a good meal, and time with family.

At age 16, Alex stopped attending school so he could work to help support his family?"I only had one pair of trousers, so I thought that meant we needed money." He later served 2 years in the Royal Air Force, based in England. He then went to night school to earn his degree in Electrical Engineering.

He tinkered with cars and motorbikes, volunteered for political campaigns, and played rugby "for the pint [of beer] after the game." It was after one of those games?dressed in his muddy kit?that he met his elegant wife Sonia, who worked in fashion in London. Sonia was on her way to a formal event and was not sure what to make of him...until she met him again a few weeks later at a political canvasing event. This time he was nicely dressed in a jacket and tie?and this time she said yes to a date.

Alex and Sonia were married a few years later in 1965. In 1970, they won a spot in the U.S. visa lottery and emigrated with their toddler daughter, Sarah, and his Yellow Labrador dog, Ross, to the United States, where their son, Matthew, was born a couple of years later. They lived in Wethersfield, Connecticut, before moving to Simsbury, Connecticut in 1977.

Alex worked for two different engineering firms, including Donovan, Hammick and Erlandson, for the first 15 years in the U.S. In the mid-1980s, he launched his business as an Engineering Consultant, specializing in electrical and roofing projects. He worked from home with a slim staff of his beloved cats?who were generally useless at typing?but good for warming seats and reminding him that it was lunch (tuna) time. Alex thrived in his business as a solo entrepreneur and had a reputation for excellence and integrity in his work and his word.

Alex was a devout man with a gift of healing prayer. He and Sonia were devoted members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Tariffville, where they found a loving home and spiritual community. They were involved in numerous outreach and youth programs at the church and helped established the Kateri Medical Clinic in Nigeria. Every Saturday morning for decades, Alex hosted a Men's Breakfast gathering for friendship, prayer, conversation, satire, hilarity, and his famous French Toast. He led Emmaus youth weekends for decades, and was one of their longest serving leaders. In later years, Alex and Sonia traveled the world extensively.

Alex was a kind and gentle man, of sharp intellect and great humility. His sense of humor was legendary. Meetings, conversations, and family dinners were typically abundant with laughter, thanks to his comedic stylings, informed by Monty Python, The Goon Show, and Steve Martin.

Alex had four major surgeries over age 75, but was too vulnerable to heal from the fourth as he became infected by COVID while in recovery. Alex was preceded in death by Sonia, his beloved wife of almost 60 years. He is survived by his daughter Sarah and son-in-law Tom, his son Matthew and daughter-in-law Karen, and his grandchildren, Isaac, Henry, and Theo. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and church community.

Services to remember and celebrate Alex will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Tariffville, Connecticut. There will be an open reception with the family from 9 am-10:30 am, a Memorial Service with Communion at 11 am, to be followed with coffee and doughnuts in Trinity's parish hall. Guests are free to come and go as works for them and, if attending the service, are asked to wear a mask. Attire is business dress, business casual, or Aloha/Hawaiian shirts, in honor of Alex?who loved a good Aloha shirt.

In memory of Alex pleased get vaxxed and wear a mask, especially if you have symptoms. It's a simple step that can take to protect the lives of loved ones you know and loved ones you don't know.

The family ask that in lieu of flowers you make a donation to Doctors without Borders or your local food bank.