It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Robert E. “Hector” Hayes, 89, on September 9, 2026. Robert was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend whose life was marked by hard work, dedication, and a deep love for his family, his Irish heritage, and his faith. A lifelong resident of Syracuse, he was the son of the late Robert E. and Helen (Tickner) Hayes. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Janet (Sierotnik), in February 2008, and by his companion, Kathleen (Britt) Klamm, in August 2026.

Bob was a proud alumnus of St. Patrick’s High School, Class of 1955. He served his country aboard the USS Intrepid as a member of the United States Navy and was honorably discharged in 1957. He went on to a distinguished 35-year career with the Syracuse Police Department, first as a patrolman, then as a resource officer in city schools, and for many years as head of security at the New York State Fair. A man of strong faith, Bob was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church and received its prestigious Irish Heritage Award in 2014.

Known to many as Hector, Bob was an avid golfer, a diehard New York Yankees and Syracuse University sports fan, and a member of the Ole’ Rascals. He was also a proud member of Coleman’s Charter Mug Club, sharing friendship and stories with fellow St. Pat’s classmates on Tipperary Hill and throughout the neighborhood he loved.

Coaching was one of Bob’s greatest joys. Throughout the 1960s and ’70s, he became one of the Parochial League’s most respected basketball coaches, earning Coach of the Year honors three times and leading his teams to multiple league and diocesan championships, including the historic 1974 Section 3 Class C title — the highest level ever reached by a Parochial League school. His 1969 St. Pat’s team delivered the school’s first regular-season crown in 33 years. He also served as athletic director at St. Pat’s, coached grammar school and CYO teams, and spent 25 years guiding West End PBA Little League baseball players.

Everything Bob did — in and out of sports for more than a half-century — benefited others. One of his proudest legacies is the Rascals’ Youth Basketball League, which continues today as the Leprechaun League and is directed by two of Bob’s former Rascals — a testament to the lasting impact he had on young people in the Tipperary Hill community. In 2002, he was inducted into Section 3’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he joined the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.

To his family, Bob was more than a coach, a police officer, or a community leader. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, and a man who believed in showing up — for his sons, for his players, and for anyone who needed him. His legacy lives on in the generations he guided, the community he strengthened, and the family he cherished. Through every chapter of his life, his family was his anchor, his joy, and his greatest pride.

Bob is survived by his four sons: Bob (Tara), John, Tom (Arthur), and Mickey (MaryJo); his grandchildren: Nichole (Dan) Karleski, Bob (Katie), Marah (Julio) Aira, Anna Hayes, Galen (Mia), and Morgan Hayes; and his great-grandchildren: Caden, Casey, and Charlie. He is also survived by his siblings, John “Buddy” (Rosalind), Charlotte Ferstler (Edward, deceased), and Helen Marie Chase (David), along with many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind an endless list of sincere lifelong friends who shared gatherings at Irish establishments, visits to Old Forge, NY, and winters in Dunedin, FL. The family extends immeasurable gratitude to Gene Bausinger, Angelo Natoli, and Uncle John Sierotnik for their daily coffee runs to Recess Coffee and their many errands and acts of kindness.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 216 N. Lowell Ave., Syracuse. Burial will follow in the Onondaga Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Monday, September 14, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church. Robert’s Mass of Christian Burial will be livestreamed; please visit stpatricksandstbrigids.org and click the green Facebook “F” in the upper right corner.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robert’s memory to the St. Patrick’s Heritage Fund, 216 N. Lowell Ave., Syracuse, NY 13204, or to the St. Patrick and St. Brigid Food Pantry.

Edward J. Ryan & Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.