Steven "Steve" B. Hayes

Steve grew up in Upper Arlington, Ohio. He graduated in 1963 from Upper Arlington High School. After high school he attended The Ohio State University where he received his B.A. degree in International Studies. Steve continued his education graduating from The Ohio State University Law School in 1970.

After graduation from law school, Steve clerked for Ohio Supreme Court Justice Robert Leach. Steve was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in 1970. He then became an Assistant Prosecutor for Franklin County Prosecutor George Smith for eight years.

Steve accepted an appointment by Governor Jim Rhodes as Franklin County Municipal Court Judge in 1980, serving with distinction until January 2005. Upon retirement, Steve served as Magistrate in the Upper Arlington Mayor’s Court from 2005-2020. Steve believed in what he learned from his father on “paying forward,” and in that vein he volunteered to serve as a Judge Mentor. Steve was well respected for his work ethic, wry sense of humor, and considerable legal knowledge. Steve was highly regarded by his fellow judges and consistently earned high peer review rankings. Steve brought firm and fair justice to all who came before him.

Steve was a private man. As the son of the legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes, Steve sought the solitude of being his own person. Those who knew him well found a complex and good man. The love of reading was imbued at a young age and continued throughout his life. Like his father, he had a strong interest in history. Steve enjoyed sharing “shaggy dog stories” and puns to the delight of others. He had to share his father with the football players Woody coached over many years, and so had many “adopted brothers.” As Woody pursued his own intense coaching style, it was Steve’s loving mother Anne who taught him to shoot a basketball as well as throw a football and baseball. Steve was an ardent Buckeye sports supporter, especially of the football team.

The Ohio State University played a significant role for Steve. He supported the creation of the Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies at OSU. He also gifted the proceeds from the sale of Woody’s Noble County cabin to fund the establishment of the Anne Hayes Memorial Scholarship for Academic Excellence in the College of Social Work at OSU.

Steve was a member of the Church of the Resurrection, New Albany, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Woodrow Hayes and his mother, Anne. Steve is survived by his loving family, Kathleen Bidlack Hayes, daughter Laura Louise and her daughter, Clayre, the apple of Steve’s eye, and son Philip Woodrow, as well as numerous cousins.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 from 4pm-7pm at SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST, 1051 E Johnstown Rd, Gahanna. Funeral Mass will be private for family, but loved ones are invited to join via livestream here: https://www.facebook.com/allrwelcom

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Anne Hayes Memorial Scholarship for Academic Excellence, the Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies, or a charity of your choice. Donations for either may be sent to the Office of Estate and Gift Planning, 14 E. 15th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201.