Wallace “Wally” Mannington Kain
Wallace “Wally” Mannington Kain was born in 1929 in Wallace, Nebraska on the Kain wheat and cattle farm. During the depression, he moved with his family to New York where his father Francis Kain became a meat broker in Hell’s Kitchen. As a kid, Wally would take the train back to the family farm every fall to help with the harvest. Wally attended Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, NY (class of ’47) where he met his future wife and love of his life, Joan Busher.
Wally attended Princeton (class of ’51) and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since Wally was very young he was always involved with shooting sports and was captain of the Princeton University Rifle team. Wally was also an elite Skeet, Trap and later, Sporting clays shooter. While at Princeton, Wally was in the ROTC. After graduating Wally was commissioned an Army Lieutenant with the 82nd Airborne Artillery where he served as a Battery Commander and Aide to General E.A. Walker.
Wally and Joan were married October 1, 1954 and they lived in Cambridge, MA while Wally attended Harvard Law School (class of ’56). After graduating, Joan and Wally took a freighter and explored the African continent for several months. This was the 1st of many travel adventures during their lives that took them to interesting places like the Amazon, Peru, China, Japan, Antarctica and New Zealand.
After Law School, Wally started a 28 year long career with the AT&T & Western Electric during an amazing period of technology growth at Bell Labs. He retired as the Bell System’s Chief Patent Attorney in 1984.
Joan and Wally raised 3 children, Susan, Will and Stuart as they moved around with the Bell System including stops in Yonkers, NY, Alexandria, VA, Princeton, NJ (1964 – 1977), and Greensboro, NC (1977-1984).
In 1977 Joan and Wally began visiting Sanibel regularly and bought a condominium in Blind Pass at Bowman’s Beach. After retiring in 1984 Joan and Wally moved permanently to Sanibel (Sabal Palm Drive) and they immediately got involved with conservation and preservation projects. They were active members of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation SCCF for over 30 years. Wally was Chairman of the Land acquisition committee and a proud member of the “Hammerhead” volunteers.
Wally’s interest in protecting animal habitat lead him to CROW (Care and Rehabilitation of wildlife) where he was a Director & President from 1987-1990. He also served as Chairman of the Taste of the Islands from 1987-1990. Wally shared his views on key Sanibel issues in his regular editorial column in the Sanibel Captiva Islander paper. His passion for preserving Sanibel and making a difference led him into politics. He served on the Sanibel City council from 1990 – 1998 and was elected Mayor two times (1994-1995) and (1997-1998.) He was also very involved in the Sanibel Kiwanis.
Wally was also passionate about his hobbies. He loved nature photography, painting watercolors, sailing, shooting sporting clays, bicycle riding and writing. After Sanibel politics, Wally focused his energies on writing novels and plays. He was very involved in the Sanibel writer’s group and wrote 3 published novels and several plays. Two of his novels “The Nunca Riddle” and “The Red Column” are about a fictional Sanibel girl named Jo Tartan and her family’s adventures in
the Amazon. His 3rd book, “Fly in the Butter” is about Wally growing up in the 1930’s and 40’s.
Wally was an amazingly talented and compassionate person whose independent spirit and thirst for knowledge lead him to excel in almost everything he attempted. He did it with class and humility. We have truly lost one of the Greatest Generation.
Wally passed away peacefully at Shell Point on Saturday October 16th 2021 and leaves behind two sons, Will and Stuart, 7 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, his pampered LizKitty, and lots of amazing friends.
Wally was all about giving back to the Island. In lieu of flowers, I am sure Wally would appreciate a small donation in his name to the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) or F.I.S.H.