John Whayne Dillehay, 56, died at home April 9, 2009, of lung cancer. A memorial service will be held later in the spring. Whayne was born May 13, 1952, in Louisville, Ky., and grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He earned degrees from Georgetown University and Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. Whayne arrived in Alaska in the summer of 2003, following a career in journalism and public service in Washington, D.C. After moving to Alaska, until his illness struck, he passed on his love of journalism and international affairs to students at the University of Alaska Anchorage, serving as the Atwood Professor of Journalism. During his nearly six years living here, he reveled in life in Alaska, soaking in its beauty and adventure, not to mention its odd quirks. He never tired of the glimpses of Denali occasionally glowing at the head of South Fork valley in Eagle River, where he lived; the moose and other assorted wildlife wandering through the yard; the sudden splash of a salmon or trout on his line; and the mystery of the northern lights. Journalism, politics, international travel and teaching were his passions. Before coming to Alaska, Whayne developed and implemented international journalism training programs with the International Center for Journalists, organizing programs that brought hundreds of overseas journalists to the United States and conducted training around the world in developing nations just beginning the process of creating a free press. Perhaps his proudest achievement was the establishment of a journalism school in the Republic of Georgia, a program that is now independent and thriving. As unrest bubbles up again in Georgia, the people of that country are getting reliable information in large part because the program developed by Whayne has ensured that there is a corps of well-trained journalists covering the story and giving it context. In the course of his career with ICFJ, Whayne traveled to dozens of countries, making lifelong friends around the world. Before turning to international journalism, Whayne spent many years indulging his fascination with politics, serving as chief of staff to then-Congressman Charles Schumer and press secretary to Congressman Edward Markey. Even then he was teaching, if not formally; his legacy from those days is the cadre of young Hill staffers and interns he hired, trained and mentored who continue in public service today. The ever-present backdrop to his professional life was his devotion to and love for his family. Whayne is survived by his wife of 34 years, Jo Ann Farrington; and his sons, Brian Dillehay, Daniel Dillehay and Jonathan Dillehay.