James T. Hayes

James "Jim" T. Hayes, 87, of Westborough, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Dana (Lietuvninkas) Hayes.

Born in Worcester, he was the son of the late James E. and Julia (Barron) Hayes. Jim was raised in Shrewsbury and attended Shrewsbury High School, where he played football and rowed on the crew team. He later served in the United States Army.

Jim spent more than forty years working as a civil engineer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Highway Department prior to his retirement, contributing to numerous infrastructure projects throughout the Commonwealth.

He was a member of St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Westborough and a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus. His faith remained important throughout his life.

Jim was known for his quiet and thoughtful nature. He listened carefully and spoke with purpose, and when he shared his perspective family and friends valued his advice. He carried a strong work ethic throughout his life and treated others with respect and grace.

He enjoyed sailing, gardening, and following Boston sports, remaining a lifelong fan of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. For several years he kept a sailboat at Saquatucket Harbor on Cape Cod, where he enjoyed quiet sails or simply sitting aboard reading and watching the harbor. In his later years he also enjoyed following the stock market and keeping up with daily market activity.

Jim and Dana purchased their Cape Cod home in West Harwich in 1985, a place that became a gathering point for family for decades. He loved grilling in the backyard, spending time at the beach, and welcoming his children and grandchildren to enjoy the home together. He and Dana also enjoyed spending time together listening to music and dancing.

Jim was a devoted husband and father who rarely missed his children’s activities while they were growing up, whether attending basketball and hockey games or piano and dance recitals. He and Dana frequently traveled to Syracuse University to visit their son and attend basketball games. In recent years he continued to take great interest in his grandchildren’s lives and enjoyed attending their sporting events whenever possible.

In addition to his wife, Dana, Jim leaves behind his daughter Dianna E. Chiott and her husband Matthew of Duxbury; his daughter Ruth M. Hayes of Acton; his son James J. Hayes and his wife Alicia of Acton; and his grandchildren Patrick J. Steeves, Anastasia M. Steeves, Julia D. Hayes, and Madeline A. Hayes. He was predeceased by his brother John "Jackie" Hayes and his sister Mary Ann McMahon.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, March 12th at 10:30 A.M. in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main Street, Westborough. Burial will follow in St. Luke’s Cemetery.

A calling hour will precede the funeral Mass from 9 to 10 A.M. at the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main Street, Westborough.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org.