Margaret Daly Hayes

Margaret Daly Hayes, 82, of Falls Church, Virginia, was born July 10, 1943 and passed away peacefully in the early morning of November 8, 2025 after a 5 year battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was residing at Brightview Senior Living, Woodburn Campus, Annandale, VA. at the time of her death.

Margaret grew up in the Chicago, Illinois area and while she suffered from Polio in her early childhood, she went on to become an avid scuba diver with notable dives around the world. She was a Certified Scuba Dive Instructor and twice President of the Capital Divers Association. In addition, during her storied working career, she earned the degree of “Blackbelt” in Taekwondo.

Margaret was known for her renowned expertise in Latin American politics and security issues. She held a Doctorate in Political Science, a Master of Arts in Spanish Literature and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. During her career Margaret worked on the Hill as a Senior Staff member in the Western Hemisphere Division of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Director of the Washington office of the Council of the Americas, and Director of External Affairs at the Inter-American Development Bank. Most proudly she was the first Director of the New Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies within the National Defense University. Margaret left the Center in 2004 to join Georgetown University as an adjunct Professor of Latin American Security Studies where she remained until her retirement in 2017.

Margaret was known throughout her working career as Dr. Hayes. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University in 1965, her Master of Arts in Spanish Literature from New York University in Madrid, Spain in 1966, her Master of Arts in Political Science from Indiana University in 1970, and her PhD in Political Science from Indiana University in 1975. She joined and was involved in prominent Washington, DC area organizations including the Council on Foreign Relations, Inc., the Latin American Studies Association, and the International Studies Association.

Dr. Hayes has been written up in prominent area publications for Professional Women Honorees including a number of times in “Who's Who of Professional Women”.

Although Margaret was devoted to her career and worked hard most of her life, she and her late husband, Richard Edward Hayes, September 1942 – November 2019, were able to travel the world for both work and pleasure visiting places in Africa, China, Spain, the Galapagos Islands, India, Alaska, Ireland, Latin America, and others. During her travels she was an avid photographer.

She leaves behind her son, Michael Thomas Hayes and daughter-in-law Kathleen M Rice, two brothers Thomas R Daly and wife Jaclynn, and William R Daly and wife Sue, as well as nieces and nephews.

There is a planned Memorial gathering at Murphy's Funeral Home in Falls Church on January 10, 2026 from 2:00PM – 6:00PM. She will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with her husband Richard in the coming months.