Robert W. Hayes

Robert W. Hayes, 90, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. He was born December 31st, 1920 in Reno, Nevada, the first son of Dorothy Louise Ford and John Henry Quincy Adam Hayes, an artist and graphics art advertising businessman in Oakland, CA. He graduated salutatorian from Alameda High School (Oakland, CA) in 1938 and received his bachelor's degree from the University of California (UC) at Berkeley in 1943. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, served on active duty in World War II until 1946, then in the reserves until 1956, at which time he retired at the rank of Major. While on inactive duty, he met his wife, Kady Maxine Hayes, and they married on November 24, 1946 in Castro Valley, CA. In 1951, he obtained a Master's degree in Hospital Administration from UC-Berkeley and began a 20-year career in the California State public health system, mostly as Hospital Administrator at Pacific State Hospital for the developmentally disabled in Pomona CA. In 1969, he accepted a position as Deputy Commissioner of the State of New York's Mental Health system. In this role, he oversaw the consent decree to close Willowbrook State School and led the movement to get residents out of centralized care facilities into group homes in the community. In 1975, he became Deputy Director of Administration at Wilton Developmental Center for the developmentally disabled. Upon retirement in 1993, he received a service award from then Governor Cuomo. He was a man of faith and gave generously to the churches he attended including the Princetown Reform Church (Duanesburg NY), where he served as deacon and elder, and the New Life Fellowship Church (Wilton NY). He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Kady Hayes, sister Dorothy Kain, step brother Don Ford, his sons John (Joan), Kim (Avery) Bart (Johanna) and Robert (Darci), daughters Judy (Steve Abbott), Janet (Martin Mulvey) and daughter in-law Amy Hayes and 14 grandchildren, 1 great-granddaughter, 4 step grandchildren, and 3 step great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his first-born son Charles, brother Bart, step sisters Joan and Patricia Hayes and step brothers Douglas and Bobby Hayes. A Memorial service will be held at the Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Wednesday November 23, 2011 at 10 AM. He will be buried at 2 PM in Saratoga National Cemetery after the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Marilyn's Ministry, Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 3662 Gifford Church Rd, Duanesburg, NY 12056