Wayne Vaporis, 71, of East Haven, CT, passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2025. 

Wayne was born in Bridgeport, CT, and was predeceased by his parents, Pierre Vaporis and June Collins Vaporis.

Wayne attended Old Field Elementary, Tomlinson Junior High, and Roger Ludlowe High School. He maintained close friendships with many of his classmates over the years. After high school, Wayne was inducted into the Armed Forces during the Vietnam Era and served in Japan with the ASA Special Forces Division. He received several honors, including a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Expert Badge for M-16 rifles, and an SS badge for grenades.

Following his service, Wayne pursued higher education at Excelsior College, where he graduated with an associate's degree in Liberal Arts. He had a thirst for knowledge and was an avid reader and educator, which earned him the nickname "YODA" among friends and colleagues.

Wayne dedicated over 50 years of his career to the automotive field, primarily with the Volkswagen franchise. The majority of his career was spent at Curran Volkswagen of Stratford, where he regarded the Curran family as his own. A lifelong resident of Fairfield, with some time spent in Pennsylvania, Wayne settled in East Haven, CT, with his beloved wife and pets for 13 years, enjoying watching his seven grandchildren grow.

He had a passion for all things mechanical and was an ASE-certified Volkswagen Master Technician as well as a certified BSA motorcycle technician and builder. Wayne once served as the president of the Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club and was the proud owner of a 1955 Chevy Bel Air.

Wayne cherished yearly vacations with his wife and the Healey family, family gatherings, and spending time with his grandchildren. A true animal lover, he was actively involved in animal advocacy and was a friend to all.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife of 16 years, Cindy-Lee Vaporis. He is also survived by his bonus daughters: Sara (Mike) Mergel, Kaeley (Ronald) Morrissette, and Vanessa DuBios; his grandchildren: Kai, Raven, Wyatt, and Amelia Mergel, King Treasure, Ruby Morrissette, and Rose Morrissette; his brothers: Craig Vaporis and Drew (Anna) Vaporis; his nephew: Cole Vaporis; and his godson: Sean Gaffney. He leaves behind his cousin Melissa (Phil) Curro, his entire team at Curran Volkswagen, many great friends, his loving cat Beatrice, and his arch-nemesis Skippy.

Wayne was predeceased by his parents, Pierre and June Vaporis; his brother, Todd Vaporis; his niece, Christy Vaporis; and his cats, Mama Mia and Dexter.

The family would like to thank the staff at Smilow Cancer Center in North Haven, Dr. Kortmansky, and Dr. Kahn. They would also like to express their gratitude to the staff at CT Hospice, including both their home care team and facility staff.

Visitation will take place on Friday, January 31, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Lesko Funeral Home, located at 1209 Post Road in Fairfield. Visitation will continue on Saturday, February 1, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by a prayer service at 11:00 AM and full military honors.

For travel directions or to leave an online condolence for Wayne, please visit www.LeskoFuneralHome.com