Philip Paul Hayes, of Manchester and Mount Vernon, died on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 18, 2014, of complications from dementia. He was 72.
Born in Portland, Maine, in 1942, to the late Yvette Charette and the late Philip Edward Hayes, he grew up on Dresden Avenue in Gardiner. His mother was a homemaker and seamstress, and his father worked for the Veteran’s Administration at Togus. A busy and outgoing child, Phil served as a Boy Scout and often dressed up as a clown for special events.
At Gardiner High School, Phil was active in football, basketball, and student government. During his high school years, he happily worked summers at Camp Belgrade along the shores of Great Pond. In 1966, he graduated from St. Anselm’s College in Manchester, N.H., and he later attained an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from the University of Maine at Orono.
In 1968, Phil married Bonnie Weston, of Farmingdale, a high school classmate. Although they were not sweethearts in high school, they reconnected after college, married in Gardiner, and moved to Farmington. Phil taught Social Studies at Mt. Blue Junior High School and Mr. Blue Middle School for over 30 years, serving as a teacher and coach, then later as an administrator and athletic director. During his years as a teacher, he mentored many University of Maine at Farmington students in their practicum experiences and student teaching. After retiring from full-time teaching, he served for five years as an education instructor at UMF.
Described by his wife Bonnie as “a gifted and accomplished teacher who was respected and admired by his peers and students,” Phil received a grant from the Ford Foundation in 1972 to study open education in Berkeley, Calif.; the Hawaiian islands; Grand Forks, N.D.; and London, England. The civics course he taught, SUNSHINE USA, is long remembered for illuminating life-lessons along with the basics of municipal, county, and state government. He was nominated by his peers in the MSAD 9 district as “Maine Teacher of the Year,” and, later, was named a runner-up for “Faculty of the Year” by his UMF students.
Since 1978, Phil spent the better part of his summers at the family camp on Flying Pond in Mount Vernon. Over the years, he found an outlet for his creativity in refinishing old furniture and in his many projects — fashioning items both practical and artistic. When he finally retired from teaching in 2001, Phil divided his time between summers at the pond and winters down the road in Manchester, and he expanded his restoration skills by refurbishing old camps around central Maine.
He was fond of reading American history and always enjoyed a good basketball game. During these slower but no less busy years, he and his wife Bonnie also made many trips to visit their children and grandchildren in Washington state and Florida. Always an educator, in recent years he established the Free Library at the Manchester Campus YMCA.
Philip Paul Hayes is survived by his wife of 46 years, Bonnie Weston Hayes of Manchester; his sisters Anita Morrissey of Sidney and Connie Hayes of Rockland; his sons Mark Edward Hayes of Miami, Florida and Jonathan Arthur Hayes of Mount Vernon; and four grandchildren: Emily Mae Hayes and Samuel Mack Hayes of Mount Vernon; and Coltrane Ingram Hayes and Evan Foster Hayes of Miami.
The family extends its sincere thanks to the Alzheimer’s Care Center in Gardiner, MGRLTC at Glenridge in Augusta, and MaineGeneral Hospice.
A celebration of life will be held for family and friends in the summer of 2015 in Mount Vernon. Donations in memorial can be made to the Hayes Family Scholarship at the University of Maine at Farmington. Contributions may be sent to the Director of Development – UMF Alumni Foundation, Ferro Alumni Center, 242 Main Street, Farmington, ME 04938.
To Phil’s family, my most sincere condolences. “Mr. Hayes” was one of my favorite teachers, and his name comes up often as a favorite among friends when we reminisce about our time at A.D. Ingalls during his early teaching years. He shared with us his great sense of humor and had a way of making us, his students, feel we were the smart ones and he was learning from us. I loved running into him on the street in Farmington years after I was out of school as he always knew who I was. He’ll be remembered fondly forever.
Bonnie, Mark, and Jon – so sorry to hear of Phil’s passing. I enjoyed him both in school and later in life, and I feel bad that you now will have to miss him. May he rest in peace.
My deepest sympathy to Bonnie, Mark and Jon. Phil will be kindly remembered by all of those whose lives he touched.
So sad to hear of his passing. During his teaching career he seemed to enrich all the lives he met. Our community is a much better place because Phill has been here. My condolences to his family.
So so sorry to hear this, he made a very big impact in my child hood. He helped me through a very difficult time in my life as a teenager. He took the time to talk and listen and helped point me in the right direction, he truly had a gift, and shared it, He cared.
Working “Across the Hall” at Mt. Blue Jr. High in the 70’s was such a pleasure. Phil was the ultimate teacher and friend. My best to his family.
A wonderful man with a great sense of humor. I learned so much from him as did my two sons. Rest in peace.
Terry and I were most sincerely sorry to hear of Phil’s passing. Our condolences to Bonnie, to their sons, and to all those for whom Phil was a mentor, friend, and beloved colleague.
A truly wonderful educator and mentor. He will be missed!
I am truly saddened by this news. Phil was probably the greatest teacher i had ever seen. Phil would so regularly storm into my office at 6:30 in the morning to excitedly tell me of the great idea he had for delivering his lessons that day. And the ideas were great. After 20 and 25 years in the classroom, he still had this kind of fire, creativity, and enthusiasm for his profession. Truly, a gifted educator, and fine role model. A valued friend.
My sincere sympathies go out to Bonnie, Mark and Jon.
My sincerest condolences to Mark and his family. Mr. Hayes was a wonderful, caring teacher, and he made a difference in my life. I will remember him with a smile.
Phil was my favorite instructor at UMF. He taught it like he saw it and that helped me tremendously. He gave me the courage to be the teacher I wanted to be and the skills to make it happen. Including the ability to give the”eye” look!
He will be greatly missed.
One absurdly early 1997 morning in History & Philosophy of American Education, I summarized my as-of-yet-untested teaching philosophy as “equity rather than equality.”
Phil’s enthusiasm and approval for my words and beliefs continue to let me know I’m doing something right.
Rest well, Phil. I truly would not be the educator or the person I am today without your wisdom.
I loved having Phil for class. He was a wonderful teacher in middle school and in college. He was an inspiring man. My condolences to his family.
Mr. Hayes was truly one of my greatest mentors in the teaching profession. He had a special place in his heart for all of his students, and his son continued that tradition for me on the soccer field. He continues to leave his legacy in the classrooms of our wonderful community. My sincerest condolences to his family.
Bonnie and family I know that Phil is now watching over all of you as you have been watching over him. His spirit is flying high with pride over his family.
Mr. Hayes was my teacher back in middle school. I remember him being tough but very fair. He always wanted you to do your best. So sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to the family.
Phil was a great supporter of UMF and a valued colleague who brought a wealth of practical knowledge and wisdom when he came to work with us after his many years with SAD#9. All of the members of the Glass family, Matiana, Marc and Anna, send their condolences to the family.
On behalf of the Mt. Blue RSD Family, I want to offer our sincere condolences to Bonnie and her family. We have many fond memories of Phil. He modeled for all of us the meaning of being a true professional in the field of education.
Dr. Tom Ward
Superintendent of Schools
MBRSD
Great teacher