Preston Edward "Eddie" Hayward

Preston Edward "Eddie" Hayward passed in style, at the stroke of midnight, 9/23/2024. He lived large and completed every world-wide adventure he set out for - he filled his bucket to the rim!

His people include:

- His three daughters: Kimberly Hayward Gutekunst (Brian Gutekunst), Denise Hayward Palmer (Steven Palmer), Katrin Hayward Miller (Dustin Miller) and son Anton Manuilov (Anastasiya Manuilov)

- His grandchildren: Madison 'Gutekunst' Witterschein (Patrick Witterschein), Natalie Hayward Palmer, Jackson York Gutekunst, Bradley Preston Palmer, Nolan Leverich Palmer, Zoe Sylvia Miller, Olivia Manuilov and Elizaveta Manuilov

- His U.S. Jaycee Senators Family, classmates, and friends

- His wife, Natalia Hayward, from 1992-2014

Eddie graduated from Athol, MA High School in 1956. His class was exceptionally close. He made their annual reunions a priority. In the end, his classmates regularly took him out to lunch, when he could no longer travel to them. 

He served in the United States Army as a Specialist 4, H34 Helicopter Crew Chief, and Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC. He piloted his own plane thereafter. He was exceptionally proud of his service and the VA provided daily home health care services to him in return, his last years. Ray Rudolph was his caretaker and we are indebted to him for his patience, kindness, beyond duty activities, and friendship.

He attended the University of Miami in 1960 and transferred to his beloved Florida State University in 1962, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing in 1963. He was a Seminole to the core and rarely missed a FSU Football game on the television, but preferably in person. 

His voice and guffaw would fill any room, with smiles and laughter in return. He was the happiest person on this earth and welcomed anyone into his extensive circle of colleagues and friends. His life was about service to others - some of his last words were: "I wanted to help people". 

He adored his family and was beyond generous in all ways. He was the family member who was devotedly and fearlessly up for anything - he was all in and he showed up! 

He was an ambidextrous sportsman who could play any sport, and well! His love and talent of racquetball was all encompassing for decades. For an active man, he also enjoyed a quiet day fishing in a row boat. 

He was the owner of L.F. Robbins Insurance Agencies his entire career. He purchased the agency from his father-in-law with many existing and future family members working in those agencies. With Doris Garnhum managing the agencies, she provided him the opportunity to travel the globe all those years.

His passion was the United States Jaycees (Senator #20317) where he served his entire adulthood. He was the founding father and President of the Pepperell Chapter, turned Senator at age 35, serving in a number of leadership roles state-side and internationally for more than 60 years. He traveled to all 50 States and over 100 Countries. His grandchildren have inherited his "travel-bug" and he proudly lived vicariously through their travels in his later years.

He suffered health setbacks the last decade of his life but never gave up. He was the perfect patient with following advice and directives from his medical team and family. He worked hard to maintain - a true soldier to the end.

We are proud of you and will miss you terribly. Rest now - you've earned it! 

Visiting hours will be held in the McGaffigan Family Funeral Home, 37 Main St., (Rte. 113) Pepperell, MA on Friday, September 27th from 4 – 7 pm. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. A Memorial Service will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, September 28th at 10 am. Burial will be private.