Richard Oliver Hayes

Richard Oliver Hayes, Ph.D, MPH, passed away December 23, 2014 in Broomfield, CO. Richard was born in Huntington Park, CA on January 18, 1925 to Fred Leon Hayes, a superintendant of a commercial rock plant, and Estelle Stewart Hayes. He grew up in Bakersfield, CA as their beloved only child and was known as ""Dick"" to his many friends. Dick graduated from Kern County Union High School in 1942 where he lived during the week, played violin, and managed the football team. Dick worked for the Bakersfield Mosquito Abatement District before enlisting July 1, 1943 in the U.S. Navy. He received officer training as a midshipman deck officer before serving in the pacific fleet. His combat operations included several battles in the Philippine Islands and Borneo, for which he was awarded three stars. Dick received an honorary discharge to inactive reserve status in July 1946 at the end of the war. Dick immediately began his academic pursuits to become an entomologist. He graduated from the University of California (""Cal"") in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in Zoology. He earned a master's degree in Invertebrate Zoology from the University of Utah in 1950, and a Ph.D. in Medical Entomology from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY in 1953. Later in his career, Dick returned to Cal for post-doctorate study and earned a Masters degree in Public Health in 1971. While at Cornell, Dick met an undergraduate, Carol Burns, on a blind date. They married in her home town of Mohawk, NY in October, 1952. The couple honeymooned at Niagara Falls and drove to California where Dick began his work as a medical entomologist for the U.S. Public Health Service at the Center for Disease Control's field station in Bakersfield. During his 23-year CDC career, he performed and directed important work in the prevention and abatement of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, presented several scientific papers at professional conferences and symposia throughout North America, and authored or co-authored more than 60 research and technical publications. Additionally, as a doctor of medical epidemiology, Dick was sent all over the world to consult on arboviral diseases such as malaria and encephalitis for the World Health Organization, the Rockefeller Foundation, and various private enterprises in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Gambia, Jamaica, Korea, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Senegal, Switzerland, Taiwan, Venezuela, and the United States. After retiring from the CDC, Dick continued his entomological consulting, and also served as a visiting professor and senior research associate at Colorado State University, Technical Program Director at Frank E. Basil, Inc., and Executive Director of Hospice Inc. of Larimer County, CO. Dick and Carol lived in many locations over the years as Dick's career advanced and they later settled into retirement. He liked to say that his life began and ended in two fields: Bakersfield, CA and Broomfield, CO. Other residences included Savannah, GA; Taunton, MA; Greeley, CO; Fort Collins, CO; Albany, CA; Cape Cod, MA; and Scottsdale, AZ. They enjoyed them all. Dick's cultural and philanthropic endeavors were also a large part of his life. He was a violinist in the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, served as President and Trustee of the Fort Collins Symphony Board of Directors, President of the Advisory Board of Lincoln Center in Fort Collins, Chairman of the Cultural Development Committee of the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, Board Member for the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra, and Secretary of the Sonoran Symphony Board of Directors in Scottsdale. Throughout the years he was a life-long learner and was usually enrolled in a course or two at various public or private colleges and universities. Dick loved to travel and took the family on numerous road trips and camping trips throughout the U.S. and its many national parks from Maine to California. These family vacations culminated in a grand Christmas vacation in Hawaii in 1978. On their own, Dick and Carol vacationed in Europe, Mexico, the Canadian Rockies, and celebrated their 40th anniversary with a cruise and train tour of Alaska. They drove to many major league baseball parks around the country, visited various elder hostels, and enjoyed river boat cruises of the Columbia, Snake, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers, as well as the Erie Canal. Dick encouraged his children to work hard and do their best, and his precepts were dedicated by his example. He was a careful, detailed, conscientious scientist, employee, husband, and father who respected God, the church, the government, education, science, and nature. Dick is survived by children Eric A. Hayes (Kathy) of Edmond, OK, Lorraine H. Trotter (Walter) of Broomfield, CO, Nancy H. Shepherd (Henry) of Erie, CO, and Paul F. Hayes of Charleston, WV; grandchildren Crystal (Michael) Jones, Megan (Ryan) Garton, Sheryl Hayes, John Hayes, Scott Armstrong, Amanda Armstrong, Amelia Trotter, Thomas Trotter, and Gavin Trotter; six great-grandchildren; and brothers-in-law Leighton R. Burns of Herkimer, NY and Edward L. Burns of Mohawk, NY. Services will be held at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, CO on Tuesday, December 30th with visitation beginning at noon, funeral at one o'clock, burial, and reception to follow at Broomfield Senior Center, 280 Spader(formerly 280 Lamar), Broomfield, CO 80020. 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