Attorney Armand Michael Hyatt

Attorney Armand Michael Hyatt passed away peacefully at his home in Amesbury, Massachusetts on August 27th, 2025. Armand centered his life around family, faith and service, core values he maintained even while valiantly living with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) since 2019. Armand was born on June 10th, 1952 and raised in Lawrence and Methuen by his parents the late Wilbur and Angelina (Manzi) Hyatt. Armand is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Karen Ruebel Hyatt, their four children and 4 loving grandchildren, who affectionately called him "Giddo" in honor of his Syrian heritage. Children (in order of age): Brett Gianna (husband Ian Scott) of Salem, MA; Wesley Therese of Charlestown, MA; Attorney Wilbur Alexander (wife Mary) of Wayland, MA; and Attorney Sofia Antonia (fiancé Joe Slattery) of Portsmouth, NH. Grandchildren: Gavin Whitney Hyatt (10); Armand Isaiah Hyatt (7), Dean Hamilton Hyatt (4) and a brand new granddaughter, Felicity Meg. He is also survived by his six siblings: Father Martin Hyatt, Saint Basil's Seminary in Methuen; Nadema Gemmell (husband, Douglas) of Windham, NH; Doctor Peter Hyatt of Windham, NH; Sofia White (husband, Ian) of Andover; Attorney Francis Hyatt (partner Attorney Kimberly Jones) of Nashua, NH; and Doctor Joseph Hyatt (wife, Elizabeth) of Bedford, NH. Nieces, nephews, godchildren and cousins were also fiercely loved by Armand. An endless source of fun and entertainment to everyone around him, Armand could create joy out of the simplest things: harmonica jam sessions, playing games at the beach, surfing in the ocean, or shooting hoops in the driveway are some family memories that all will cherish. Armand graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1969, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and English from Boston College in 1973, and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1976, where he won the American Association of Trial Lawyers Award for Outstanding Writings in Environmental Law. While in San Diego he met his future wife Karen, with whom he built a life in the Merrimack Valley. A devout practicing Catholic and man of deep faith, Armand gave generously of his time and his heart. He was an involved member of Holy Family Parish, served on the Parish Council, and taught religious education at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Amesbury. He was an active leader in the Cursillo retreat program at St. Basil's Salvatorian Center in Methuen, MA, where he served as the head Rector and helped lead the music ministry countless times. He was the attorney for the Corporation of the Basilian Salvatorian Order for 16 years. His community involvement extended into several other areas, including as a champion of sports, local youth, and the arts. Armand was a longtime coach and league director for the Amesbury Youth Rotary Basketball League, dedicating 27 years to mentoring young athletes. He helped found Merrimac Heights Academy, a school for children with disabilities. He was an adjunct lecturer at Merrimack College, served on the board of the Merrimack Valley YMCA, and was an active "Big Brother." Armand was also the executive producer of the off-Broadway play Perfect Crime, the longest-running non-musical play in the history of New York theater. Armand joined his father's law practice in the North Common neighborhood of Lawrence, MA in 1976, and was admitted to the bar in Massachusetts, California, and New Hampshire. His diverse general practice included both civil and criminal trial work, contract law, and real estate transactions. For the majority of his nearly 50 years practicing law, his paralegals Diane Ranieri and Deborah Begley served as invaluable colleagues and dear friends of the family. As an accomplished attorney, Armand's legal career was defined by his steadfast belief that every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and a place to call home. In 1986, he co-founded Lawrence CommunityWorks (LCW), serving as pro bono general counsel and a continuous member of its board and executive committee from its inception until his passing. Since 1987, he has also served as general counsel to Salem Cooperative Bank, in Salem, NH. His contributions-legal, strategic, and personal-played a central role in creating more than 700 units of affordable housing across the region and revitalizing several urban renewal sites. He found tremendous fulfillment working with his fellow community organizers, and took great pride in being a hands-on leader, whether in the form of tireless advocacy for his clients or volunteering at a riverbank clean-up day. Armand's efforts were recognized across the Commonwealth and beyond: the City of Lawrence proclaimed "Armand Hyatt Day" in 2008, and he received Congressional Honors from both the U.S. House (2014) and Senate (2019) for his outstanding and invaluable service to community development and environmental stewardship. Armand's legacy of helping others will live on. The Armand Hyatt Scholarship Fund at LCW provides financial support to Movement City high school seniors and alumni in their post-graduation endeavors. The Armand Michael Hyatt Apartments, situated on Island Street in Lawrence, provide affordable housing, youth programming, substantial green space and riverfront views for dozens of families. Armand's funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 3rd at 10:30 a.m. at St. André Bessette Parish in Amesbury, MA. If you are attending the funeral mass please meet at church. Thank you. Family and friends may call on Tuesday, September 2nd from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the John Breen Funeral Home, 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA. For online condolences and other information please go to www.breenfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any of the following charitable organizations: Armand M. Hyatt Scholarship Fund at LCW: https://www.lawrencecommunityworks.org Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS): https://ccals.org/donate/ Peter Frates Family Foundation: https://petefrates.com/donate/ Saint Basil's Seminary: https://saintbasils.org.