William Scott Hayes

William Scott Hayes, beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, educator, and lifelong advocate for the arts, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 28, at the age of 92.



Scott graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a BA in history and received a BA in choral music, a General Secondary Teaching Credential, and an MA in counseling from San Francisco State University.



He taught history and choral music from 1959-1960 at South Gate High School, taught geography and history and served as a student counselor at Terra Linda High School from 1960 to 1973, served as dean of students at Terra Linda High School from 1973 to 1980, and completed his career by serving as a student counselor at San Rafael High School from 1980 to 1993. Scott founded and chaired the Creative Arts Committee at both high schools. This committee presented performances by student groups and professionals throughout the school year, and the California School Board Association awarded Scott a Golden Bell for the program.



The Hayes Auditorium at San Rafael High School was named for Scott upon his retirement, and his contributions to the performing arts were recognized decades later when he was inducted into the San Rafael High School Hall of Honor in 2023 for his lasting impact on students and the community.



Early in retirement, the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society in England asked Scott, as a distant relative of Sullivan (Sullivan's brother Frederic was his great-grandfather), to research and present the extraordinary generosity Sullivan showed to his brother's large family following Frederic's early death at age 39. The resulting 1996 Oxford University talk opened up many speaking engagements for him throughout England, the United States, and Melbourne, Australia, and helped to make his retirement a rewarding and meaningful time. His book, Arthur Sullivan: The California Connection, was published by the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society in 2001 with a second edition in 2009, and a German edition in 2022. He co-wrote the book Your Affectionate A: Sir Arthur Sullivan's Letters to His Family with his son, Scott M. Hayes, in 2015. Scott was also the inspiration, narrator, and subject of a children's book, Walking with Charlie, by Christina Stroeh. The book detailed Scott's walking adventures and friendship with a neighbor's dog.



Scott shared 65 years of marriage with Katharinealice "Kitty" Hayes, whom he met in 1959. Kitty passed away in May 2024. Their union was a model of love and devotion, inspiring generations of their family.



Scott is survived by his sister Constance (Gerald Mackey), his children, Jessica (Klinker), Jennifer (Fisk), Scott Hayes, and Johanna (Kecskes) and their spouses, Matthew Klinker, Ray Fisk, Sarah Hayes, and Ken Kecskes, eight grandchildren, Camille (Klinker) Rall, Ryan Klinker, Cole Fisk, Emma (Hayes) Whitsett, Abigail (Hayes) Noe, Cameron Kecskes, Alex Kecskes, and Eliza Hayes, and their spouses, Christopher Rall, Matt Whitsett and Jake Noe, and great-grandchildren, Lily Rall and Oliver Noe.



His family remembers him as a man of deep faith, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to those he loved.



A memorial service will be held at the Church of Our Savior in Mill Valley on January 17 at 2 pm.