Walter Loring Hayes

Last Friday night was my retirement party-I am retiring after 20 years at Massabesic Middle School. I would have loved to have had Wally at my retirement party. Almost every day spent as a Middle teacher I thought of Wally and aspired to be the type of teacher he was to so many. I will never forget Wally's advice as I prepared to return to teaching 20 years ago, I was in his classroom when he said to me, "it will be easy for you to decide, but you must decide if you will be a teacher who...

Bernie; Jan Brady here. My sincere condolences for your loss of "Wally". I'm sure you are surrounded by loving and caring family and friends, but if there is anything I could do for you, please don't hesitate to ask..

I am saddened to hear that dear Mr. Hayes has gone on to the next place. I have fond memories of him in my awkward Westbrook Junior High days in 1967-68 as he made math interesting and indeed fun. It was much later that I learned that he was a new teacher in those days. I last saw him in 2005 when I returned to WHS as a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and I gave an evening presentation to the Honor Society and teachers and parents in the audience. Mr. Hayes was there, smiling and...

Mr. Hayes was one of the people that most positively shaped my life in high school. I was always impacted by how optimistic he was. For Mr. Hayes, nothing was impossible and he believed in his students more than they believed in themselves. I saw this within the context as his math student as well as a member of the WHS bellringers.

I also remember him struggling with some health problems during my years in high school, and there were times when we knew he really should have...

For Aunt Bernie, Ryan, and Katie; I am very sorry to hear about Uncle Walter's passing. I cannot imagine the difficulty of losing a beloved parent after knowing them for so many years. I pray you would know strength and comfort during this time. I fondly remember Uncle Walter's laugh at the family get-togethers. Precious memories.

Dear Bernie and family, My sincere condolences to all of you on the loss of your husband/father. He was,indeed well thought of. He exhibited so much energy and love of life in the years that I worked with him. May he rest in peace. You are In my thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Hayes was my freshman math teacher. He had a unique teaching style, he didn't go by the book. I learned a lot that year not just about math but about life. Mr. Hayes invited me to join his Bell Ringing Choir which I was honored to accept. He said he asked me because he remembered when we first met that I made eye contact with him and had a firm handshake. Mr. Hayes taught me the value of paying attention to small details and first impressions. Later in my high school career I leaned on...

He was my Boy Scout leader and next door neighbor as a kid growing up. I spent 4 years at Camp Hinds and they are some of my best memories and Walter was involved in all of those years!!! Condolences to the family...

I had Mr. Hayes for study hall 10th grade. When I 1st met him I felt he was rude and a little stuck up. I also was a 16 year old who thought I knew everything. As I got to know him I grew to really respect him. I remember one day I was having a hard time with my algebra home work. He asked me if I wanted his help. At the time I didn't know he was a math teacher lol, for some reason I thought he worked in the music dept.So I was like ok he thinks he's so smart show me lol. And he did, he took...