Jane Loretta Hayman

It is with great sadness that Jane Loretta Hayman passed away on October 8, 2022 from Multiple Myeloma together with the effects of a drug trial, at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas. Jane or Janie too many was born on April 3, 1951 in Cleveland, Ohio and was preceded in death by her father Joseph A Jachimczyk and mother Loretta A Jachimczyk. Her father was medical examiner of Harris County (Houston) Texas for 40 years.

Jane didn’t live a full life she lived an overflowing life. There was barely enough time in the day for her to get things done. Bright, lovely, quirky, talented, one of a kind are just some of the words to describe her.

Her parents moved to Houston in 1955 in order for her father to take up the position of medical examiner for Harris County. She attended St Vincent de Paul Elementary school followed by the Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in one of the school’s first ever class years . She made lifelong friends at both schools. Starting in 1962 she then graduated in 1968 and had wanted to attend Northwestern University in Illinois but following the riots at the Democratic Convention that year in Chicago her father soon nixed that idea. Happily she then attended University of Texas at Austin, graduating BA in History in 1971 soon to be followed by 3 years Law school also at UT graduating JD in 1974. She made many of her best friends in life at Law school. She clerked for Judge William Morrison in Austin in 1975 straight out of Law school and then headed to Washington DC and worked on Capitol Hill as an aide to Congressman Jack Brooks of East Texas. In those days in Washington they thought if you’re from Texas you must know about oil hence she then joined the National Oil Jobbers Council, a trade organization representing heating Oil and gasoline distributors in the US. Again in Washington she made lifelong friends through the NOJC and its conventions. Onto New York in 1981 she tried Wall St as an oil trader but that wasn’t for her hence she hung out a shingle as a sole practitioner lawyer for a few years.

Australia came knocking in 1983 when she opened an office for an Australian captive insurance company called OAMPS. She had met them via her work at the NOJC in DC. This then led to many trips to Australia and eventually meeting her future husband, Peter, in 1989, in New York City. He worked for an Australian stockbroker. Her company had just gone public and at an Australia-American Association luncheon one day she just happened to sit next him and a few days later she had sold her shares.

They married at the Boathouse in Central Park in 1994 and promptly moved to San Francisco, living in Marin County. (She had actually moved there in 1992) While Peter trudged off to the SF Financial district at 4.30am every morning she began to immerse herself in Marin. Guide Dogs for the Blind, CASA, Toastmasters were just a few of her activities. Hiking, running and skiing were some others. They decided (ok she did) to move back to Texas in 2006 settling in her favorite city of Austin. Austin was then much smaller than it is now but again she threw herself into activities such as helping at risk children, President of Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Association and even tried a spot of fulltime work. In later years she was active in Houston charity work, for adults trying to get their lives together. She fought neighborhood battles, charity battles and even travelled to Cambodia once to follow a money trail or lack of it. She was also a member of the visiting History committee of the History department at the University of Texas. I nearly forgot, she was a weekly member of the Austin Metropolitan Breakfast Club for many years.

While much of the preceding was her career and some activities her real love however was the creative arts. Sewing, embroidery, knitting, painting, pottery, metalwork and crafts in general were her passions. On her many overseas trips she would have pre-scouted the local city craft markets and she and Peter would often make them a first port of call after arriving. An additional suitcase was usually needed to bring back all the fabric she would then use to make blouses, shirts, tops etc. Most of these were for friends and even acquaintances and will live on in her memory. A large room in the house was devoted to her 2 sewing machines, cutting board, and even a mannequin. She also loved to paint, especially pet portraits with much of her work spread around the US and beyond. A horse painting won a competition in Kerrville Texas 10 years ago. She was just getting back into painting again in recent times, following an absence. She also had a T- Shirt design business earlier on and designed them for the likes of popular bar Quatros and also Austin Community College. Design and furnishings were also favorite interests of hers. She went through a mid- century modern phase. I’m not sure what you would call another phase of hers but beat up metal and wood furnishings were popular. I mean who has a shot out metal box hanging from their hall entrance way ceiling in their house. That was her.

As well as the Arts she really loved people and travel. Visiting over 100 countries there weren’t any she didn’t really like (ok Turkmenistan was a stretch) and she and Peter had more travel plans. Their last overseas trip, to Portugal in August was one of their best and happiest times.

Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, hiking to Mt Everest base camp, not to mention 6 marathons were all part of challenges she loved to undertake. There was no bigger challenge of course than the last 3 years with her illness. Starting out a block at a time in training for the NYC marathon after many months she eventually made the 26 miles with her motto being: “start out slow then ease up”.

She loved helping people. Whether it was young new friends moving to Austin and looking for jobs or apartments or buying a book about a subject a friend likes and sending it off, she was both generous and loving towards others. She didn’t suffer fools but might give them a second chance if they were lucky.

She loved visiting Australia with her husband and especially enjoyed the irreverent fun she got up to with his niece Caroline and nephew James over the years. She formed a solid bond with sisters in law Judith and Anne in Australia. While not seeing them often enough, her husband’s friends and families were her friends also. Also her multiple myeloma group in Austin were a source of strength and near to her heart.

A beacon of light, the glue between people and friendships and a remarkable life can’t help to make up for our terrible loss. People gravitated towards Jane, she could strike up a conversation with anyone and just about anything.

She leaves behind husband Peter and as the mother of toy poodle Little Bear, Yorkie Cookie, ragdoll cat Harold, who knows what type of cat Toasty, and finally the irascible Chatty. Brother Michael of Houston, sisters Mary Lou and Peggy of Houston and Bandera TX and niece Kate of Austin, Jack and Sam of Houston and Joey of San Diego CA and Matt of Austin.

The Memorial to the life of Jane Hayman will be held on Friday, November 18th at 1pm.

Location: The Austonian, 55th floor, 200 Congress Ave. Austin TX 78701 Limited valet parking will be available.

Memorial Donations may be made in Jane's name to Austin Pet's Alive.