Neil J. Hayes

I have been given a gift. The gift of a period of time to gather my thoughts and get my affairs in order. I have been diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of having had well controlled rheumatoid arthritis for a decade. I have found obituaries rather sterile things, written by those armed only with a formula and without a real knowledge of the deceased. Therefore I offer the following:

I was born in New York City to John T. and Marion G. Hayes. The Family, including my sister Althea, moved to Willingboro, NJ in 1959, the town I think of as home. It was a wonderful place and time to be a kid. I attended Corpus Christi, Holy Cross High School and Villanova University, graduating in 1973. I became a Police Officer then Detective, returning to school to obtain my Law Degree in 1981. Surprisingly, I was a superior student who wrote for Law Review and obtained a judicial clerkship. After serving the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach, I joined a large West Palm Beach Law Firm and opened my own office in 1989. I retired in 2016 and the firm continues as Hayes, Schloss & Alcocer., P.A. I achieved an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell. I married Becky Hayes ( née) Wisner in 1985 and our daughter Emily was born in 1996. They are the joy of my life.

With the boilerplate out of the way, let me get to the point. Thank you to everyone who has touched my life. Each of you have changed my existence in ways big and small.

To those I have transgressed or offended please forgive me. I have no excuse. Actions that seemed rational and understandable in the past now seem unwarranted and irrational.

To those who may have hurt me I offer the same that I seek. Forgiveness.

To Becky, you have been a Saint. We built a firm and family together. While my name was on the door it was always you who were the heart and soul. Your kindness and gentleness are legend. I love you beyond measure. Go forth boldly and happily. My sadness in passing lies in leaving you.

To Emily, never has there been such a child. Gifted with intelligence, confidence and diligence you have been a true joy and you taught me more than I ever taught you. Continue your life of adventure secure in knowing that you are loved.

To Althea and Dick, thank you for always being there for me. Pong, darts, racquetball and the infamous Tuesday Night Baseball, capped with a trip to Russia. Good times.

To my In Laws, the Wisners: I was always treated like an actual son or brother. I could not have picked a finer family to join. I was always warmed by your patience in attempting to train a Philistine like me.

To those with whom I was a cop, thank you for great experiences and teaching me not to abuse a surprising amount of power vested in a twenty something.

To my mentors in the Law, I hope my actions as an Attorney lived up to your exacting standards.

To Gary and Isabel, my Law Partners, I trust you found me worthy of helping to shape your excellent careers. The firm is in good hands and thank you for keeping my name on the letterhead.

To all who work at HSAPA, particularly Stacy, Lily and Marilyn: you are the ball bearings on which the firm runs. Thank you for putting up with me. I don't know how each of you function at such a high level day in and day out. More family than employees.

To my Doctors, Thank you for your skill and diligence. We tried. Dr. Cerejo and staff - you never let me down and should be a template for the practice of medicine.

I transitioned seeing only the light not cursing the darkness. Let us all hope God is as merciful and forgiving as they say.

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A memorial service will be held for Neil on Sunday, June 28, 2020 at Howard Quattlebaum funeral and event center, 754 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, Florida 33408. The service begins at 1:30 p.m. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the service is limited to 50 close friends and family. At 2:30 p.m. all friends and acquaintances are invited to join the family to share condolences and good memories.

A funeral mass will be held for Neil on Monday, June 29th at 1pm, St. Paul of the Cross Parish, 10970 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, Florida.

Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Neil may do so to Lung Cancer Research Foundation or to a charity of your choice.