Hayes, Daryl Frederick – After a lifetime dedicated to shaping young minds and enriching his community, Daryl Hayes has officially retired at the age of 84.
Daryl Frederick was the eldest son of the late Fred and Eileen (Dawson) Hayes, born in Upper Nelson, New Brunswick.
He is survived by the love of his life and devoted wife of 62 years, Margaret (Wallace); his beloved children, Beth-Anne Marr (Andy), Margot Hayes (Yves), and Marc Hayes (Renee); and—admittedly with little effort on his own part—cherished grandchildren, Geneviève, Jean-Philippe, Martine, Emily, Josiah, Kiahna, Isaiah, Elijah, Juliana, and Enya, along with 13 great-grandchildren who brought him endless joy. He will also be dearly missed by his brothers, Paul (Nonie) and Frank (Susan) Hayes; brother-in-law Jim; sister-in-law Barbara (Jerry); and several nieces and nephews.
Daryl enjoyed a long, distinguished career in education that spanned nearly six decades, from 1962 until 2020. His vocation took him around the globe, with teaching positions on the Canadian military base in Lahr, Germany; in Oswego, New York; and at Cole Harbour High. He served as Vice Principal of the Nova Scotia Teachers College and went on to make lasting contributions at the Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus. Daryl was also instrumental in helping develop the technology education curriculum for Trinidad and Tobago. Revered across the province as the "grandfather of technology education," Daryl possessed a rare gift for seeing the innate potential in every student and inspiring them to reach it.
His generosity extended well beyond the classroom. Daryl was deeply committed to his community, serving as Deputy Fire Chief with the Musquodoboit Harbour Volunteer Fire Department and as a Director of Eastern Shore Ground Search and Rescue. In both organizations, he left a lasting mark by modernizing fleet vehicles and championing vital emergency response training.
At heart, Daryl was exceptionally handy and mechanically minded; it was a rare day when he encountered a practical problem he couldn’t solve. This mechanical spirit fueled his passion as an avid car enthusiast, and he could often be found tinkering with or driving his cherished Corvair, his revered Mercedes, or his classic 1931 Model A. Daryl and Margaret also shared a lifelong wanderlust, traveling together to well over 30 countries, with Russia, Switzerland, and China holding special places in his heart.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Sabine, Tracy, Cindy, Julie, and Nurse Practitioner Joanne McKee for their compassionate care and gentle support.
A funeral service and reception will be held on Monday, September 14 at 11 a.m. in First United Church, Musquodoboit Harbour, NS.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, a local food bank of your choice, or the Eastern Shore Ground Search and Rescue.
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