Longtime Lynn resident Jeff Hayward is moving to Florida. Item photo by Owen O’rourke.
By Michele Durgin
LYNN — Jeff Hayward has a lot of packing to do.
The longtime Lynner, who served his hometown as former Mayor Albert DiVirgilio’s chief of staff followed by a four-year stint in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, is moving to Florida.
Hayward, 56, is leaving his position as chief of external affairs at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, one he’s held for 17 years, and is taking over as the president and the CEO of The Heart of Florida United Way in Orlando.
He and his wife Anne-Marie, a Disney travel agent, are busy preparing for the move to Orlando along with their children, Nathaniel, 17, Victoria, 13, and Abigail, 12. His older children, Brittany, 27 and Emily, 25 will not be making the move.
His new job begins in early December and, even though he has been living in Wells, Maine, for the past few years, Hayward still calls Lynn his home and admits to having mixed feelings about his life-changing move.
“I am very excited to start a new chapter, so to speak, but it’s really hitting me how hard it is going to be to leave so many wonderful family and friends,” he said, with a tear or two in the eye.
“I was just at my mom’s (Dorothy, 88) house, visiting with her. Memories were flooding my head and heart as I looked around. It’s the house I grew up in with my two brothers and two sisters. She has lived there for 55 years. I will miss seeing her everyday, but we will still be in close contact. Thank goodness for technology.”
Hayward’s friends are throwing him a goodbye party on Nov. 21 at Old Tyme Italian Cuisine on Boston Street.
Hayward has served on local boards including the Lynn Community Health Center as well as the Lynn Housing Authority.
He is a graduate of St. Anselm College and attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government’s two-year executive education program.
He is founder and former chairman of the Board of Directors of Serving People In Need, an organization whose mission was to move homeless families out of shelters. He currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Massachusetts Alliance for Supportive Housing.
Hayward calls growing up in Lynn “a gift.”
“I have learned the true meaning and value of such things as loyalty, friendship and hard work right here, in this city. I am a proud Lynn English High graduate (Class of 1978) and so much of who I am today comes right back to my time spent here,” he said. “I have vivid memories of people and events that I will take with me and treasure forever. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”
Hayward has strolled down memory lane far more often in recent weeks. He looks back, with gratitude and fondness, at the people he believes have had a hand in shaping the man he is today.
“So much of who I am comes right back to Lynn and the folks I have had the pleasure of knowing and meeting along the way,” he said. “I am taking memories of my favorite teacher at English High, Bill Sheehan, who sparked my interest in politics and really pushed me to find my calling. I am eternally grateful to Al Divirgilio and all that he did for me. The list could go on forever. I am fortunate and I feel sorry for those who never take the time to look back and take stock.”
Hayward credits his father with giving him solid values, a strong work ethic and instilling the importance of respecting others and their opinions.
His dad, Herbert, was a General Electric shop steward in Lynn and died from bone cancer at the age of 53.
“I was only 13 when I lost my dad, but I have so many wonderful memories of our time together. I think he knew he was not going to be in my life for long and intentionally spent a lot of time with me. We would talk for hours and hours about everything under the sun. He pointed me in what I believe was the right direction, and it’s been all good since. I miss him and hope that he would be proud of the man I grew up to be. He was a true Lynn man and I would feel honored to be called the same.”
Well, best of luck Jeff Hayward — a true Lynn man.