Byron Jackson Hayes, Jr.

Byron Jackson Hayes, Jr, was born in Los Angeles in 1934 to Caroline (Scott) and Byron Jackson Hayes, Sr. He was the proud older brother to Donald Hayes. He graduated from Rosemead High School, where he was Student Body President and Salutatorian. He received full scholarships to Pomona College (1956) and Harvard Law School (1959), graduating with honors from both. He returned to Los Angeles to practice law with the McCutcheon, Black law firm where he rose to partner and orchestrated the merger with Baker Hostettler many years later. His legal career was highlighted by many successful real estate and business transactions, as well as leadership in the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and the Los Angeles County Bar.

Byron met and quickly fell in love with DeAnne Saliba. They were married in 1962. After a stint in the Army and the Judge Advocate General Corps, they settled into life in Studio City and then Toluca Lake, where they lived in the same house from 1972 until his death. Byron was father to Ken Hayes (Susanne) and Tricia Hayes Christensen (Gavin), and grandfather to 5 terrific grandkids: Philip Hayes, Christina Hayes, William Christensen, Brian Christensen and Caroline Christensen. One of his distinct joys was seeing them grow into young adults who shared many of his passions.

Since retirement in 2000, Byron engaged in significant, impactful service to organizations in the greater Los Angeles area as diverse as the United Methodist Church, Pomona College, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Museum of Social Justice, and the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce. He engaged mostly in pro bono legal work but also enjoyed serving on the LA Phil Speakers Bureau and flipping pancakes for the local LAFD Station 86. He and DeAnne loved attending LA Philharmonic concerts at the Music Center and Hollywood Bowl. He also loved hiking and off-roading with friends in the Sierras and in later years, taking walks in Griffith Park and around the neighborhood. His lifelong hobby was collecting shortwave radios and the parts needed to test and repair them. He is survived by his beloved DeAnne, his children and grandchildren.

A memorial service and celebratory brunch will be held later in August. For more information, please contact Tricia at triciahc@yahoo.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Byron’s memory to the Los Angeles Philharmonic (www.laphil.com), the Los Angeles United Methodist Urban Foundation (www.urbanfoundation.org) or Pomona College (www.pomona.edu).