A Mass of Resurrection was celebrated at St. Mark Church on March 1 by Father Richard Florek. Family and Florida friends gathered at Bob’s home following the Mass to celebrate his long, productive life.
Born at home in Oneida, NY, the son of D. Leo and Ruth Mahan Hayes on January 24, 1935, his family later moved to Trumansburg, NY, where he completed his high school education, a scholar, a thespian, a musician and a 3 letter athlete. He graduated from SUNY Morrisville and Cornell University, then entered the US Army Reserves.
While a Reservist, he gained employment as an Agricultural Agent with the NYS Extension Service, following in his Dad’s footsteps. (Leo was State Leader when he retired in 1958.) This position brought Bob to Norwich where he met Jean Fahy. They were married August 12, 1961 at St. Paul The Apostle Church in Norwich. He was called back to serve in 1961, as the Bay of Pigs and Berlin crises developed. To hear them embellish it, he and his friend Carl Kimberly brought about the resolution of these events from their posts at Fort Dix, NJ. They are probably spreading the same fantasy in Paradise today.
In 1962, Bob started a rewarding career in banking at Lincoln Rochester in Brockport, NY, NBT in Sidney, NY, then Southeast Bank and Hanover Bank in Coral Springs and Plantation, FL. The retirement of Bob and Bev Sumner brought them back home to Norwich in 1988, when he and Jean purchased Sumner’s Office Supplies. They gradually transitioned this to HAYES Office Products thanks to the capable hands of Chris, Missy, Phil and Mike.
As a devout Catholic, Bob served his Church as a trustee, and a member of the Holy Name Society in the Parishes where he lived. He was also a JayCee, a Kiwanian, an Elk, a Town of Sweden Supervisor, and a founding member of the Brockport YMCA, and a treasurer of the Morgan Manning Historical Society, and a Sidney Rotarian. An avid golfer, he never stopped trying to perfect his own games as well as that of his five sons. Just ask them.
Bob was predeceased in death by his Mom and Dad, his brother Edward, his sisters-in-law Ginger, Theresa and Patricia, his Uncles Rich, Paul, Mark Mahan, Phil and Will Hayes, his Aunts Doris Roach, Esther Vrolyk, Anna Crowley and Mary Cushing. He is survived by his wife Jean, sons Patrick, Matthew (Sharon Crawford), their daughter Brittney of Pompano Beach, FL, Christopher (Melissa Newton) their sons Ryan and Michael, son Michael of Norwich, Philip (Lynn Barth) their daughters Haley and Elizabeth of Naperville, IL, brothers Dr. Gerald and Judith Hayes of Earlville, NY, Martin and Joan Hayes of Geneva, NY and Michael Hayes (Patricia joined Bob in heaven, March 18) of Sebastapol, CA, sister-in-law Karen Hayes along with many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
The family invites all who knew Bob to join them in celebrating his Irish heritage on July 13 at the Canasawacta Country Club Pavilion from 12-4 pm. Bob will always be remembered as a dedicated, loving, husband, father and grandfather, loyal to his friends and customers. May he rest in peace.
Please consider memorial contributions to Holy Family School, 17 Prospect St., Norwich, NY 13815 or to a charity of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18