Obituary for Longtime Rotarian Mike Hayes
H. Michael Hayes (Mike) of Westminster, a retired University of Colorado at Denver professor and former General Electric manager, died February 4, 2014. He was 87 years old.
Mike was born March 11, 1926, in Los Angeles. On August 3, 1946, he married Neola J. Becker, with whom he shared life for 52 years. She preceded him in death on May 1, 2000. He was also preceded in death by his son, Stephen E. Hayes, and granddaughter, Alison L. Hayes.
Mike is survived by his fiancé Darlee Whiting, sister Kathleen Newcomb, son Dick Hayes, grandchildren Douglas Hayes, Lindsey Daly (Trevor), and Gregory Hayes, four great grandchildren Devon Hayes, Kaylie Hayes, Evan and Clare Daly.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy after completing his university studies in the V-12 program. He was commissioned and served as an assistant navigator and landing craft boatman on a troop transport ship bringing military personnel home at the conclusion of World War II.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico in 1945 and a Ph. D. in Business Administration from the University of Michigan in 1977.
For twenty seven years, he worked for General Electric in industrial sales and sales management and as Manager of Executive Education. In 1983, he joined the University of Colorado at Denver as Professor of Marketing and Strategic Management, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1996. From 1988 to 1989, he was a visiting professor at IMEDE in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1994 and 1997, he was a visiting professor at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He authored and co-authored a number of articles, cases, and a text book, "Business Marketing: A Global Perspective."
Mike was active in numerous professional organizations, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the American Marketing Association, the Academy of Management, and the National Association of Purchasing Management.
He was a longtime Rotarian, having served as President of both the Westminster Rotary Club and the Westminster 7:10 Rotary Club. He also served as the District Governor for District 5450 in 2002/2003.
Mike loved travelling, the Colorado Symphony, spending time with his family and friends, and philosophizing on life and politics. He will be missed dearly.
A memorial celebration will be held Sunday, February 9, 2014, at 1:00pm at The Ranch Country Club, 11887 Tejon Street, Westminster, Colorado. Internment will take place on Tuesday, February 11 at 11:30 at Fort Logan National Cemetery gathering area B.
Contributions may be made to the Westminster 7:10 Rotary Foundation, PO Box 350141, Westminster, CO 80035, or the American Cancer Society, 2255 S. Oneida Street, Denver, CO 80224.