Philip Knox Hayes

1940 - 2022

HAYES

PHILIP KNOX HAYES

Philip Knox Hayes of Arlington, VA passed away on December 6, 2022 at the age of 82.

Knox, as he was known to friends and family, was born on June 30, 1940 in Chicago, IL to Albert McHarg Hayes and Elizabeth Knox (Irwin) Hayes. He attended the University of Chicago Laboratory School through 9th grade when his father's Fulbright award grant offered the family an opportunity to move the Philippines for a year and then travel the world for four months more. When Knox returned to the US, he had qualified to attend college and enrolled in the University of Chicago. He transferred to Oberlin College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1961. He finished his military service in 1963, recalling that he was driving home on November 22, 1963 when he learned of JFK's assassination. Soon after he moved to DC.

For 51 years, Knox worked in housing and urban development beginning with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and later with the District of Columbia Housing Authority. During his long career, Knox helped design, implement, and/or complete numerous mixed-income affordable housing developments in DC and helped secure several hundred million dollars in Federal and DC funding for various projects.

In a memoir essay, Knox summed up his career by saying "I am very proud of the many programs I created, and the assistance provided to District residents. The various homeownership programs created had helped several thousand low-income renters to buy homes, and made it possible for more families to purchase apartments and remain in place during the rapid gentrification and displacement in the Nation's capital. Even today, I can drive through most any part of the city and see something where I had a hand in its creation or preservation."

Knox had many life-long friends. He was described as a sincere, thoughtful and peaceful spirit. With his wife, Marilyn, he joined Couples Coaching Couples in 2008 eventually serving on their National Board as Treasurer.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Marilyn Johnson Hayes; sister Judith Weir; step-daughter Gillian Johnson; son-in-law Marc Simmons; two granddaughters; three nieces; one nephew; one grandniece; and four grandnephews.

The family will hold a Remembrance on May 20, 2023 at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA located at 4444 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204. Information will be posted at Https://www.mykeeper.come/profile/PhilipKnoxHayes/. In lieu of flowers, we request that you consider supporting the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in his honor. You can find more information about giving to the Lab School at https://ucls.uchicago.edu/giving.