James R. Hayes
8/10/1941 – 2/11/2021
SALISBURY - James Richard Hayes passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2021 surrounded by his wife and daughters.
Born on August 10, 1941 in Lockport, NY, Jim was the eldest child of James and Evelyn Hayes. He graduated from DeSales Catholic High School in 1959, and earned his BS degree from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Penn. in 1963. Upon graduation, Jim moved to Pittsburgh where he earned his MBA from Duquesne University. Professionally, Jim was a part of the information systems frontier bringing universities online and digitally in the university computing field, merging his passion for higher education and computerized information for students. He served as the director of computing at Duquesne for 20 years before moving to Salisbury in 1984. Jim continued his work in academic computing at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore where he became a beloved staff member for more than 25 years. He retired from UMES in June 2010.
Jim was the consummate family man and doting husband, who enjoyed vacationing with his wife visiting new countries as his retirement approached. He grew up working in his dad's various businesses, most notably Hayes Amusement Park in Lockport. Jim did a little of everything at the park, but he loved running the carousel and Ferris wheel (he was the proud owner of a Big Eli wheel). Jim earned his private pilot's license, worked the scoreboard occasionally for the Cleveland Browns, rooted for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was an avid genealogy researcher for his family.
Jim married Gianni DeVincenti on June 14, 1975, celebrating 45 years of marriage last year. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Marta Hayes Trice (Andrew) and Brynne Hayes Moore (Charles), and seven grandchildren: Graham, Olivia, Griffin, Maxwell, Natalie, Grayson, and Zachary. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Peter, Patrick, and Michael. Jim is also survived by his sisters Jane Hall and Theresa Troyer, along with many nieces and nephews.
A visitation for family and friends is scheduled for Thursday, February 18 from 4-6 p.m. at Holloway Funeral Home on Snow Hill Road. Funeral services will take place on Friday, February 19 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Salisbury. The family is grateful for the support of the memory care staff at Lakeside at Mallard Landing and the care provided by Coastal Hospice in his final weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or Coastal Hospice at www.coastalhospice.org