Obituary
Jay G. Hayden II
Jay G. Hayden II
He received a lung transplant in August 2004, at the Cleveland Clinic for which he and his family were extremely grateful.
He was born April 9, 1940, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, to Martin Scholl and Elizabeth Dodds Hayden. Jay spent his childhood in Michigan and Washington, D.C. He graduated from the Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., and went on to Harvard College. He received his M.D. at Yale Medical School.
As an anesthesiologist, Jay held a number of jobs. Following his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Jay served in the U.S. Air Force at Andrews Air Force Base. He then worked at the Lahey Clinic for many years. He moved to Maine in 1982 and began work with the Spectrum Medical Group at the Maine Medical Center, where he worked for the last 24 years.
An active member of the Episcopal Church since childhood, he sang in the choir at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., as a boy. More recently he was a member of the Christ Church in Cambridge, Mass., St. John's Church in Portsmouth, N.H., and St. Peter's by the Sea in Cape Neddick, where he served as the president of the board of trustees.
Jay had many passions. He was a varsity swimmer in high school and college and continued to swim competitively and recreationally throughout his life. He swam in many long-distance open water races including a race on Lake St. Clair in Michigan and the Peaks to Portland, both of which he swam in multiple times. He also was a runner, running cross country in high school and running marathons for many years including the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon and others.
He and Judy also took many long-distance bicycle trips including trips in France, the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe and the Western U.S. On one of these trips they biked from Portland, Ore., to Rapid City, S.D.
Jay was an enthusiastic diner and a great chef. He loved to try new foods and experiment with recipes. His fine cooking made gatherings with family and friends particularly special. For years he baked bread for his family.
He had many other interests as well. He learned to play the flute and the classical guitar and loved music, particularly classical music and Gilbert and Sullivan. He rowed scull, he owned a boat and he raised orchids and tropical fish. He and Judy loved to travel, and they visited many places including Denmark, Peru, New Zealand and much of Europe. Most recently, in January 2006, they took a 10-day trip to Costa Rica where Jay delighted in the birds, bugs, flowers and animals and also in the fact that during the trip he stood in both oceans. He was a voracious reader, reading everything from Shakespeare to Science Magazine.
Jay is survived by his wife Judith Perley; his daughter Lisa and her husband, Jeff; his son Nelson and his wife Gloria; his son Sam; his daughter Lystra, and his son Jay. He is also survived by his former wife Nancy Hayden; his brother Martin and his wife Anne; his sister-in-law Karyl; his grandchildren Josh, Sabrina and Gabrielle, and his nieces and nephews Dodds, Tory, Kelly, Kacy, Margaret and Rosamond.
He was predeceased by his parents, his brother John, and his niece Anna.
Jay will always be remembered as a bright and inquisitive man who was infallibly kind and generous.
The funeral service for Mr. Hayden will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, in St. John's Episcopal Church, 101 Chapel St., Portsmouth. Interment will be in First Parish Cemetery, York. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, 101 Chapel St., Portsmouth, NH 03801 or to a charity of one's choice.
Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, 91 Long sands Road, York, is directing arrangements.
