Joseph “Joe” Hayden

Joseph M. “Joe” Hayden of Bryn Mawr, PA, formerly of Newtown Square, PA and Avalon, NJ, passed away on December 5th, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was 89.

Born in Drexel Hill to Martin and Celia Hayden on July 17, 1933, Joe was a gregarious and kind man, and a friend to many. After attending Malvern Preparatory School, he went on to attend the University of Notre Dame as a member of the ROTC program, where he studied business. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame in 1955, Joe joined the U.S. Air Force where he served as First Lieutenant Navigator. It was during this time, while stationed in Harlingen, TX, that Joe had the great fortune of meeting the love of his life, Virginia ‘GiGi’ Cave. Born and raised in Harlingen, GiGi became Joe’s wife and they celebrated 59 years of marriage until her death in 2015, a mere two months shy of their 60th anniversary.

Being an only child, Joe knew he wanted a bigger family. Together Joe and GiGi raised 4 wonderful children, their proudest and greatest achievements, Cathy, Martin, Joseph and Michael. Nothing brought Joe more happiness than being surrounded by and supporting his children at all stages of their lives. Some of his best memories were watching his children and grandchildren from the sidelines during their many sporting events. There weren’t many games he missed, and everyone on the fields knew Pop Hayden was in attendance when they smelled the sweet cigar smoke wafting in the air.

Joe and GiGi built their forever home on Hunt Road in Newtown Square – a wonderful neighborhood filled with loving friends and countless memories of block parties, backyard football games, sleigh riding and open houses. A family couldn’t have asked for a better place to live.

Joe’s father Martin began a family business, which was passed along to Joe and his sons Martin and Michael. Joseph M. Hayden Associates became one of the leading manufacturer’s rep agencies for hardware supply products in the area, with decades of experience since incorporation in 1933. Joe took it over in 1958 and it continues today with sons Martin and Michael, selling into industrial, contractor and safety supply markets throughout the Mid Atlantic states, representing multiple product lines.

Joe and GiGi were at their happiest at their oceanfront home in Avalon, NJ, which they had for 26 years. The epicenter of many family gatherings, the Avalon home was a place for celebrating life and wonderful summer days with his children and grandchildren by his side. Each day, ‘Pop’ left a shopping list on the counter for everyone to add their favorites for him to pick up on his early run to the grocery store. The Hayden pantry was never without a seemingly endless supply of Pop-Tarts, Pringles, Doritos and Easy Cheese in a can with Ritz Crackers. A highlight was for anyone lucky enough to know Pop’s tradition of doughnuts on Saturdays (also known as “DoDo” Day) and making his mother’s famous pancake recipe for the family on Sunday mornings.

His favorite times were the massive seafood and BBQ dinners lovingly prepared by his sons and spending time on the beach watching his grandchildren play in the waves. He was known on 60th Street as a lighthouse of sorts, because he was always at the water’s edge and folks knew they were on 60th Street along their beach walks when they saw Pop on the sand. He was always keeping an eye on the ocean and making sure any child who was playing in the waves was safe.

To all that knew him, he was a diehard Notre Dame football fan and never missed a game. In the early years, a tailgate to South Bend was on the fall calendar and you could always count on the blasting of the Notre Dame Fight Song on the record player to wake up the entire house on Saturday mornings.

Joe was a true servant to God here on earth. He had immense love and devotion for his parish, St. John Neumann. Joe was a long-time parishioner of St. John Neumann Parish and attended mass every single day. Joe had the keys to the church, figuratively and literally. Pop earned his stripes as someone they could count on and he would open the church each morning before attending 8:00 am mass. As a member of Overbrook Golf Club for more than 50 years, he always felt at home when on the grounds. Joe especially loved the social scene. Family dinners, date nights with GiGi and Sunday Brunch were among his favorites. Although he never quite perfected his golf skills, he did love the game and spending time with his pals. The friendships created at Overbrook were treasured to the final days of his life via his weekly lunch date with his buddies on Thursdays at noon.

Joe is predeceased by his wife Virginia “GiGi” and daughter Cathy (late Gil) Roehrs. He is survived by his sons Martin (Marcy Kolongowski), Joseph (late Lynn) and Michael and his wife Allison (nee Allieri), 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family Wednesday, December 14th from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m., followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. This will all take place in the church at St. John Neumann Parish, 380 Highland Ln, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. Interment will follow at Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery in Springfield, PA. Contributions towards a permanent structure in Joe’s memory at SJN may be made to St. John Neumann Parish at the above address. (Kindly place Joe’s name in memo on the check.)

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