Wayne Stuart DeSarbo, 76, of Centre Hall, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Born on August 8, 1948, in Branford, Connecticut, he was the son of the late John and Frances (Guarnero) DeSarbo. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Suzanne Eugenia (Miller) DeSarbo, with whom he shared 50 years of marriage.
Wayne was a 1966 graduate of Branford High School. He went on to earn his B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School after which he earned three graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. He earned his PhD in Marketing and Statistics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1978. Wayne had a successful academic career as a tenured professor at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, and most recently at Penn State University. He is recognized as an innovator in his field who published hundreds of research articles and received numerous awards for his contributions. He was one of the few prominent Marketing scholars to be selected by the Royal Swedish Academy to serve on the Nobel Prize nomination committee. Wayne was CEO of his own consulting firm, Analytika Marketing Sciences. He was also the Executive Director of the Center for Sports Business & Research at Penn State. Wayne retired from Penn State in 2017, after 20 years of service.
In addition to his wife, Suzanne, Wayne is survived by their children, Christian DeSarbo (Erica) of Beaver Falls, PA, Sean DeSarbo (Rebecca) of Monroe, MI, and John DeSarbo (Lynne) of Bethesda, MD, and seven grandchildren: Olivia, Rocco and Alaina DeSarbo, all of Beaver Falls, PA, Riley and Leah DeSarbo, of Monroe, MI, and Natalie and Alyssa DeSarbo, of Bethesda, MD. Also surviving is his brother, Richard DeSarbo (Beverly) of Guilford, CT.
Wayne was an avid powerlifter since high school. He was the 2003 Pennsylvania State, USA National, and World Powerlifting champion in the 275-pound Masters 2 division. He also won the 2004 IPA World Powerlifting title in the Raw Drug Free Senior division. Wayne was a passionate and loyal fan of the New York Yankees, Rangers, and Giants. He was an accomplished chess player, auto enthusiast, and most of all, proud supporter of his children and grandchildren.
Family and friends will be received on Friday, November 29, 2024, from 1:00 – 2:00 PM, at Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc., 206 N. Spring Street, Bellefonte. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 PM with Deacon Thomas Boldin officiating. Burial will immediately follow at the Centre Hall Reformed Lutheran Cemetery in Centre Hall.