Francis Hayden

Colorado Springs, CO

Born July 1, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY

Mother - Helen Marie Hayden née McManus

Father -_Francis Joseph Hayden

Married to Mary Ellen Hayden née Ruane on July 7, 1951

Children

Mary (Keiki) Hayden (John Cavanaugh) of Colorado Springs, CO

Michael (Mick) Hayden (Jacquelyn) of Saint Augustine, FL

John (Sean) Hayden (Nancy) of Jeffersonville, VT

James Hayden (Sharon) of Vienna, VA

Gregory Hayden (Ellen) of Colorado Springs, CO

Grandchildren: Liam, Darcy and Kerry Cavanaugh; Kaitlin, Kyle, Hanna and Joseph Hayden; Connor, Nolan, Eleanor and Kayla Hayden; Kevin, Michael, Brianne and Matthew Hayden; Kelsey, Evan, Nick and Brendan Hayden

Greatgrandchildren: Kieran Cavanaugh; Brooklyn Hayden; Johnny Chalue

Mass will be held at 3:00 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 6455 Brook Park Drive. A Rosary will begin just prior at 2:30 pm. Reception honoring his life will be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the church following the service. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Frank enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during WWII at the age of 17 and retired as a Master Sergeant after serving for 22 years. In the U.S.A.F. he supported Strategic Air Command by working as a computer programmer on the original IBM computers. He competed with the U.S. Air Force pistol team, winning numerous awards in competitions. After retiring from the Air Force, Frank ran the family bar 'The Bell Cafe' in Bayside, Queens, and worked at Avis as a systems analyst. He coached the Avis women's softball team, and they came in second but tried harder. After retiring a second time he took up real estate in Virginia, birdwatching from his recliner and breakfast nook, walking his adopted dog 'Opie', playing cards, reading, and watching movies. His third retirement brought him to New Jersey and new friends. His fourth retirement was in Colorado Springs where he continued to teach his grandkids to play cards, enthusiastically supported all their sporting events, enjoyed the backyard birds he attracted with his feeders and volunteered at the Air Force Academy Hospital where he was recognized as volunteer of the year.

Frank enjoyed teasing and supporting his grandkids, playing cards, eating Entenmanns crumb cake over the sink, traveling, target shooting, walking with his wife Mary, and rolling dice at casinos. He will be missed by family and friends.