Timothy J. Hayes

Beloved Husband, Devoted Father, True Friend

Timothy J. Hayes, 43, of Sandy Hook, died unexpectedly on October 10 in Union City, N.J. He was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on October 16, 1961 to Timothy F. and Mary Cleereman Hayes. He was a Newtown resident since 1983.

Mr Hayes and his wife, Elin (Fekete) Hayes, were best friends and partners for 24 years, 15 of those as a married couple. He was a cherished daddy to daughter Mairin Elizabeth Moore Hayes, and beloved son-in-law to Carole Fekete, all of Newtown.

He is survived by a sister, Susan Daane of Milwaukee; aunt and uncles Sue and Richard Cleereman of Moraga, Calif., and James Cleereman of Escanaba, Mich.; nephew Andrew Daane of Milwaukee; as well as several cousins. He also leaves behind his very close friend and business partner, Carl DaVia of North Haven; and mentor and friend Robert Luckie of Tucson, Ariz., among many other friends. He was recently predeceased by his father-in-law Michael Fekete.

Mr Hayes attended schools in Brookfield, Wis., graduating in 1981 from Brookfield East High School. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison before transferring to the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University where he graduated number one in his class with a BA in finance in 1985.

He began a career in banking with People’s Bank in 1983, and moved to Connecticut National Bank to join its Corporate Lending Group. In 1990 he became the youngest vice president in the history of CNB. In 1992 he left banking to become business partners with Carl Da Via forming Diversified Management, Inc based in Hamden. Together they forged a successful professional career that included real estate investments, property management, land development, and restaurant interests.

For many years, Mr Hayes served as vice president on the board of the New Haven Boys and Girls Club. He was currently seated on the board of directors of the newly formed Quinnipiac Bank and Trust.

Though his accomplishments in life were numerous, a great personal source of pride for Mr Hayes was the purchase and complete restoration of Far Away Meadows, his beloved home in Sandy Hook. He was excited to be beginning a new chapter in his life that was marked by the purchase of an apartment overlooking the Manhattan skyline that he had just begun to renovate.

Mr Hayes had an extraordinary gift for being able to reach out and help people on many levels, a gift he gave freely and without expectation, and because of this his spirit will live on in the lives of all he touched.

Calling hours will be from 4 to 8 pm Friday, October 14, at Spadaccino Community Funeral Home, 315 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe. A funeral service will be conducted Saturday, October 15, at 11 am, at the funeral home, followed by burial at Newtown Village Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mr Hayes’ memory to Animal Haven, 89 Mill Road, North Haven CT 06473 or Make-A-Wish Foundation, 126 Monroe Turnpike, Trumbull CT 06611.

The Newtown Bee        October 14, 2005