Dr. Bayha was born at Christ Hospital in Jersey City, New Jersey to Charles E. Bayha Sr. and Edwina B. Bayha on June 2, 1936. Graduating from Emerson High School (Union City, NJ), Dr. Bayha also attended Hudson County Community College (Jersey City, NJ) and Rutgers University (Newark, NJ), before finally receiving his doctorate from the University of Vermont (1967), on a Fellowship from the National Institute of Health (NIH) under the tutelage of Dr. Martin Kuehne, after whom Dr. Bayha named his first son, Keith Martin. In addition, Dr. Bayha served in the U.S. Army, leaving military service in 1963. Dr. Bayha married Linda Marie Gast on November 23, 1968 in Summit, New Jersey. An accomplished research polymer chemist, Dr. Bayha amassed a total of 15 U.S. patents as he led research projects for companies such as Dow Chemical, Reichhold Chemical and Alpha Owens Corning of Piperton (TN), before starting the Zircon Corporation (Collierville, TN), which has been continued by his son Jarrad. Dr. Bayha was a member of the American Chemical Society, as well as a member of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey.
Dr. Bayha is preceded in death by his parents, Charles E. Bayha Sr. (d. 1992) and Edwina B. Bayha (d. 1980), as well as his beloved daughter, Gretchen Bayha (d. 1970) and son, Chad Edward Bayha (d. 1989).
Dr. Bayha is survived by his wife, Linda G. Bayha, as well as Dr. Keith M. Bayha (son) and Irene E. Farrow, and Jarrad C. Bayha (son), Catherine C. Bayha and his sons Chad Allston Bayha and John Caleb Martin Bayha. In addition, Dr. Bayha is survived by his sister Claire Manzo and brother R. Bayha.
A Memorial Service is planned for April, 2022 that will be a mix of in-person and virtual presentations and discussions of admiration and remembrance, allowing the greatest number friends, family and colleagues to show their respects. If you would like to be alerted when the Dr. C.E. Bayha Memorial planning is complete, please send an email to [email protected] and we will be sure to send you an invitation.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you submit a donation in Dr. Bayha’s name to the Dementia Society of America (https://www.dementiasociety.org/memorials), as dementia is a curse that continues to impact our Family in tragic ways.
The Bayha family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Baptist Memorial Hospital, and in particular Dr. Stephen Threlkeld, for their attention and efforts in healing Dr. Bayha’s final years. In addition, we would like to acknowledge caregiver Janice M. Kennon, whose care of Dr. Bayha was unparalleled in its generosity and understanding, much to his, and our, deep appreciation.
