Edward Gerard Hayden

Savannah

Edward Gerard Hayden, 80 died July 7, 2015 at Spanish Oaks Retreat and Hospice in Savannah, Ga., after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born May 2, 1935, in Brooklyn, N.Y., first son of Michael and Nora Hayden. Ed attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help elementary school in Brooklyn, After his seminary years, Ed was ordained a Catholic priest in the Redemptorist Order on June18,1961 in Mount Alphonsus Seminary, Esopus,NY. He served in Annapolis, Md., Pittsburg, Pa., and in Puerto Rico, from 1965-1972. While in Mayaguez, he was School Administrator of the Inmaculada Catholic High School. Ed Hayden requested and received a dispensation from Rome to be laicized. In 1973 he married Sonia Villares Calzada, a widow with 3 young children, in Jacksonville, FL. He worked as a Pharmaceutical Rep. and Sales Rep.in Florida and Charlotte, N.C. for several years and as an Investments and Securities Advisor for 13 years until his retirement in 2006 in Charlotte. Ed and Sonia moved to Savannah, Ga. in 2009. Ed was an avid reader. A political “guru,” he also enjoyed reading history, current events, sports, theology and fiction. He loved to share his readings with his children and friends, always clipping or copying articles for them. He could not pass by a political joke or cartoon, which he also clipped and shared. Proud of his Irish heritage, Ed was fond of all things Irish, especially music. In college, he was part of a barbershop quartet. Later, he was cantor at St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte, N.C. Ed was active in many sports in school: baseball, basketball, ice hockey, but he was happiest on the tennis courts. Affable, friendly, well-liked, trusted, Ed reached out to friends and strangers alike, especially refugees.

Ed is survived by his wife of 41 years, sons Ivan Calzada, Juan Calzada (Melissa), daughters Sonia Calzada Diaz (Carlos), and Noreen Hayden Hux (Jason); grandchildren Tyler, Sarah, Shayla and Teagan Calzada, AnaMaria and Carmen Diaz, and Caroline and Hayden Hux; brothers Jim (Maureen) and Mike (Edith) Hayden, cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.

All funeral services will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 7020 Concord Rd., Wilmington Island, Savannah, Ga. Visitation and prayer service will be from 7:00-8:30PM Saturday, July 11, 2015. Memorial Mass will be conducted 2:30PM Sunday, July 12, 2015.

Remembrances may be sent to Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, PO Box 1950 Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950; the Franciscan Friars of Atonement, PO Box 301, Garrison, NY 10524; or St Peter the Apostle Church 7020 Concord Rd.,Savannah, GA 31410.

Low Country Cremation Services and Burial is serving the Hayden family