Obit: Wayne Hiller, Electric City Trolley & Museum, Scranton

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Sep 12, 2023 6:11 pm

https://fox56.com/news/local/wayne-hill ... asses-away

Quote:

The Lackawanna County Commissioners have announced the passing of Wayne Hiller, director of the Electric City Trolley & Museum.

According to officials, Hiller passed away early Tuesday morning after a health battle.

Hiller began his career with Lackawanna County in 2003 in the Emergency Management Department, later taking over the Troller Museum in 2008.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

You can read the Commissioners' statement on Hiller's passing in full below:

"Wayne Hiller, the Director of the Electric City Trolley & Museum, passed away early this morning (September 12) after a courageous health fight. His goal was to get well again and return to his passion – The Museum.

He did not let his ailment stop him. He still came to work every day and put every ounce of his pride into his job.

Wayne was one of the pillars of the County Cabinet. He has been employed with The County since 2003, beginning his career in the Emergency Management Department, which was located in the former administration building on Adams Avenue.

In 2008, he took over the Trolley Museum and made it into a County “crown jewel,” and one of the top tourist attractions in our area. Year after year, Wayne continued to grow the popularity of the Trolley by coming up with innovative ideas and programs to lure more tourists to the Museum.

Wayne was professional, a team player, went out of his way for others, passionate about his job, and was always eager to help. He was a 1975 graduate of Scranton Central High School and attended Penn State University.

An avid hunter and guide, golfer, and Yankee fan, Wayne loved and found peace in the great outdoors, especially in his hunting cabin.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Ann, and daughters, Joanna and Andrea."

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Wed Sep 13, 2023 4:10 pm

Wayne Hiller was one of those unsung heroes of the preservation movement that most people on this site had never heard of.

He was Director of the Electric City Trolley & Museum, a Lackawanna County Museum at Steamtown. Here's what the County Commissioners wrote:

"Wayne Hiller, the Director of the Electric City Trolley & Museum, passed away early this morning (September 12) after a courageous health fight. His goal was to get well again and return to his passion – The Museum.

He did not let his ailment stop him. He still came to work every day and put every ounce of his pride into his job.

Wayne was one of the pillars of the County Cabinet. He has been employed with The County since 2003, beginning his career in the Emergency Management Department, which was located in the former administration building on Adams Avenue.

In 2008, he took over the Trolley Museum and made it into a County “crown jewel,” and one of the top tourist attractions in our area. Year after year, Wayne continued to grow the popularity of the Trolley by coming up with innovative ideas and programs to lure more tourists to the Museum.

Wayne was professional, a team player, went out of his way for others, passionate about his job, and was always eager to help. He was a 1975 graduate of Scranton Central High School and attended Penn State University.

An avid hunter and guide, golfer, and Yankee fan, Wayne loved and found peace in the great outdoors, especially in his hunting cabin.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Ann, and daughters, Joanna and Andrea."

As to the Yankees, the ballpark for the Scranton Rail Riders, AAA affiliate of the NY Yankees, is adjacent to the Trolley Museum's shop and destination of the Trolley Ride.

Wayne coordinated among the multiple agencies needed to make the Museum function, the County, the DL Railroad, ECTMA, the nonprofit supporting the Museum and NPS Steamtown. It all worked.

The Trolley Museum hosted Scranton Native Joe Biden on October 20, 2021. Car 505, which had served the Bidens' neighborhood of Green Ridge, was in long-term restoration offsite but Wilmington Car 120 was behind Biden.

Perhaps Wayne's greatest moment came when Steamtown's heat failed in November, 2022. Wayne hit the phones and got a temporary heat source and the Museum reopened November 25, 2022, the day after Thanksgiving.

My condolences to Wayne's family.

Phil Mulligan