John L. Hayden ’50 died on December 8, 2015, in Westbrook, Maine.

(The following was published in the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram from Dec. 10 to Dec. 11, 2015):

WESTBROOK – John Lawrensen Hayden died on Dec. 8, 2015. He was born on Dec. 7, 1928, in Portland. John grew up in Longmeadow, Mass., and graduated from Loomis Chaffee School, Windsor, Conn., in 1946, and Bowdoin College in 1950 (a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity).
John married Suzanne White in the Bowdoin Chapel on Aug. 5, 1950, and then moved to Illinois where he worked in the insurance field. The family moved to Maine in 1961 where John worked in personal lines underwriting and marine and flood insurance, retired from Commercial Union Insurance Company in 1991.
He was a volunteer fireman for the City of South Portland, a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Cape Elizabeth and at one point president of Church Council. For the past 24 years he was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Portland and helped in church activities.
John’s favorite pastime was boating. He was a member of Centerboard Yacht Club for 33 years, having been the secretary for16 years and also club commander. His passion was with the U.S. Power Squadron where he was a member on the local and national level. His dedication to the organization resulted in a lifetime membership based upon merits. He obtained 50 merits in 2011 and was a past district commander of District 19 Casco Bay Squadron, education commander of the Portland Head Sail and Power Squadron, and was currently a member of the Wawenock Power Squadron. For years he taught boating classes. He was a member of the Boston Navigators Society and attained the rank of senior navigator and a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
John was predeceased by his parents, Frank A. and Ella Lawrensen Hayden, and sister Nancy (Hayden) Waters. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Suzanne; son Frank Hayden (wife Nancy); daughter Mariella Hayden Curtis (husband Gregory); grandchildren Jennifer Hayden Runco (husband Mike), Gordon Curtis (wife Molly), Timothy Curtis (wife Chrystal), and Jeffrey Hayden (wife Liz); great grandchildren Elise Hayden, Olivia Runco, and Gavin Curtis.

The family would like to thank the staff at Avita for the wonderful care given to John during his stay.