Curtis Hayes

HAYES
Curtis Wayne (Lamb) Hayes was born Sept. 13, 1937, in Long Beach, Calif. Curt died Feb. 7, 2011, from cardio/pulmonary failure. He also suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Curt was the only child of George Samuel Lamb and Almeda Marie Hill Lamb. In 1941, George was killed aboard the U.S.S. Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. A few years later, Almeda remarried another sailor, Oden (Gene) Virgine Hayes, and Oden raised Curt as his son. Curt spent his childhood in Southern California, living in Bellflower, and graduating from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1955. After a short stint at the University of Southern California, which included playing in its marching band, Curt transferred to Long Beach State, where he earned both undergraduate and masters degrees. While working on his degrees, Curt taught high school English and continued playing clarinet and saxophone in a dance band. Following graduation, Curt headed for the University of Texas at Austin as a doctoral candidate in Linguistics and Literature. It was at UT that he developed a life-long love for Texas (and the Longhorns). After graduating from UT, Curt accepted a position in the English Department at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Over the 1964 Christmas break, Curt returned to California where he was set-up on a blind date with Marialice Hedgcock. The date went well as 6 weeks later this new couple was married, packed, and returning to his career as a professor at UNL. While teaching at Nebraska, Curt was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach in Japan, and the family spent several years living there. In addition, Curt participated in fellowship studies at the Universities of Washington and Michigan and Harvard/ Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Due to a yearning for Texas and a determined resolve to return to snow-less winters, Curt accepted a position at the brand new University of Texas at San Antonio. Curt's UTSA tenure lasted 21 years and included moving with the university to its current location, a term as department chair, meeting many lasting friends, and teaching hundreds of students. In 1994, Curt retired from UTSA to become the Chair of the Department of Elementary Education and Specialized Studies at Boise State University. While at BSU, he helped start a successful charter school and worked in the public school system in an effort to increase collaboration between professors and school teachers. In 2000, Curt and Marialice realized their long-time dream and moved to Bainbridge Island. They built a home overlooking Puget Sound, Blake Island, and Mount Rainier, a home visited by family and friends seeking to experience the breathtaking beauty of the area. Curt continued teaching and for several semesters taught English at Bremerton Junior College. He also accepted another Fulbright appointment, this time in Taiwan. Curt was a published author, including several books that are still used in universities. In the fall of 2002, Curt was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, which, along with grandchildren, hastened his and Marialice's 2006 return to San Antonio. Curt had a ever-present, playful sense of humor; loved jogging and dancing; and always sought to help others. He was one of the founders of the Hunters Creek Neighborhood Association, learned to officiate summer youth swim meets, and was proud that at times, he was only one of two people within the precinct to vote Democrat. He loved life in Hunters Creek, his friends, and the social gatherings, which once or twice a decade included the unveiling of music on his old saxophone. If Curt believed that someone's yard needed mowing or that trees required trimming, neighbors might find the "the professor" performing these services as they arrived home. Curt was an avid book lover and a passionate sports fan - losing sleep when Pete Rose's batting streak ended and when the Cornhuskers failed to win the 1983 Orange Bowl and National Championship. He was sure that the Longhorns never lost when he attended their games. Perhaps most importantly, Curt believed that the fruits of his labors could be measured in the success of his students, for which he was very proud. In recent years, everyone became his student. Curt is survived by his wife Marialice, and they recently celebrated 46 years of marriage (not bad after a 6 week courtship!); his son Michael and wife, M'lissa; a daughter Katie; and 5 grandchildren. The family offers its sincere gratitude for the care, comfort, and counseling offered by Incarnate Word's Angelique House, Sunny Spirits and the Moncadas, the staff at NE Baptist Hospital, both in the ER and MICU, and Curt's doctors, Dr. Lichtenstein and Dr. Kadri. A Memorial Services will be held on Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at 4:00 PM at the First Unitarian Church, 7150 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX. For those wishing to honor Curt, please consider making donations to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Humane Society.