Marion Chandler Hays, 1904 - 2005

HAYS

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 10/23/2006 at 20:07:34

Former teacher and Assistant Headmaster of Harvard School (now Harvard-Westlake School), died at his home in Santa Monica on May 13, within weeks of his 101st birthday. He was one of few remaining children of any Civil War veteran. In December, 2003, he was honored as a "Harvard School Great Teacher." Harvard-Westlake Headmaster, Tom Hudnut, stated that Mr. Hays is remembered fondly by generations as a compassionate, fair and inspiring teacher. One of his former students, film producer Dick Zanuck '52, said "Marion Hays was a brilliant math professor whose gracious manner made even the least proficient of his students, such as myself, feel comfortable."

The qualities evidenced by Hays and his wife, Carolyn, are the criteria for an annual award presented to a Harvard-Westlake School faculty/staff member who has demonstrated "...loyal and dedicated service to the school, friendliness, good humor and encouragement, patience and thoughtful consideration for the students and all other members of the Harvard-Westlake community."

Mr. Hays was respected in the community for his many years of service as an official of the California Interscholastic Federaton (CIF), and as a member and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. He and his wife were helpful and friendly to and beloved by many generations of neighbors and friends.

Mr. Hays was born in Spencer, Iowa, on June 14, 1904. He was the son of an Union Army veteran who fought at Chancellorsville and was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. After his father's death, he and his mother moved to Minnesota where, as a young teenager, he worked to support his mother in the Mines of the Great Mesabi Iron Range. He graduated from Hibbing High School and Junior College where he met his wife, Carolyn Lois Reid. They were married in 1925. After completing his Bachelor's degree in 1927 from the University of Minnesota in chemistry and math, and with a teaching credential in hand, he took his first teaching position at Missouri Valley College. After four years, he moved with his wife and daughter to La Grange, Illinois where he taught at Lyons High School. In 1937, he received a Master's degree in Education from the University of Chicago, and went to Lake Forest Academy. He accepted a teaching position at the Harvard School in 1944 and remained there 26 years until his retirement in 1970.

He was preceded in death by his wife Carolyn, 93, in 1996 after 71 years of marriage. He is survived by his daughters Marilyn and Elisabeth, and sons Tom and Louis, both graduates of Harvard School, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. Saviour's Chapel at Harvard-Westlake School on Saturday, June 18, 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Louis B. Hays officiating.

Contributions in his name may be made to the Carolyn and Marion Hays Award at the Harvard-Westlake School, c/o Office of Advancement, 700 North Faring Road, Los Angeles, CA, 90077.