Joel Babcock Hayden, Jr. (1922-2014)

FARMINGTON – Joel Babcock Hayden Jr., 92, of Farmington, passed away early on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Orchard Park Rehabilitation & Living Center.

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1922, the son of Joel Babcock and Hazel Hayden. He was educated in the schools of Cleveland and Hudson, Ohio, graduating cum laude from Western Reserve Academy in 1939. He attended Deep Springs Junior College in Deep Springs, Calif. from 1939-’41. In 1943, Joel graduated Phi Beta Kappa, B.A. with a major in music from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.

During the summers of 1947, 1948, and 1956 he attended Middlebury College’s Russian Summer School in Vermont doing graduate work in Russian language studies. Joel received his PhD in history in 1958, with Russia as the area of specialization, from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. He went on to receive his Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting in 1979 from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J.

From 1944-46 Joel was a member of the United States Navy holding the rank of Lt. jg. He married Ruth Fogel in February 1949, she passed in January 1979. He then married Patricia M. Park (Burton) in August 1979.

Joel began his teaching career at the St. Louis Country Day School, Berkeley, Missouri, where he taught from 1951-’53. From 1954-’56 he taught history and Russian at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio. He was co-founder of The Meeting School, a secondary level Quaker Boarding School, in Rindge, N.H. in 1957, remaining as a faculty member until 1973. Also was director of Counseling and Career Planning at Nasson College in Springvale, Maine, from 1973-’76. Joel then went on to be a professor of music at the University of Maine at Farmington from 1981 until retirement as professor emeritus in 1993.

Joel was choir director at Protestant Chapel, Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, N.H. from May to December of 1976. He was also interim choir director at Leverinton Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Penn., for April and May of 1977. He later became choir director at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook, Maine, from 1979-’82.

Joel’s accomplishments included being founding director of community choruses in Middlebury, VT; Peterborough, N.H. (Monadnock Chorus 1959-1973); Springvale, Maine (Sanford-Springvale Community Chorus 1973-76); Portland, Maine (Portland Community Chorus 1979-82); Farmington, Maine (University of Maine at Farmington Community Chorus 1985-1993).

For many years he gave private instruction in music theory, piano, and Russian language. During many summers since 1961 he led group singing at various “Camps Farthest Out” week long, non-denominational Christian retreats.

His chief avocation and great love was musical composition, which he pursued from boyhood until his death. He always wrote, not just to be writing, but for specific people or groups or occasions. His compositions include: cantats for chorus and orchestra (which he directed), chamber music (for friends to play), works for piano and organ (for his wife Patricia), and songs and rounds (some of which have been published) to be used at schools and retreats where he led the singing.

Among his interests were chess, bridge, organic gardening, and sports. At Western Reserve Academy he was captain of the soccer team and held the school record in the low hurdles.

A major focus of his love and attention was prayer and devotions. He participated in prayer groups, worked on church committees, and co-founded a small group in Farmington called the Peacemakers.

Joel was the recipient of the Waring Prize, the highest honor that his alma mater, Western Reserve Academy, can bestow on an alumnus. In 1991 he and his wife, Patricia, were honored with the “Friends of UMF” Alumni Award at the University of Maine at Farmington.

As a Quaker educator, he made trips to the Soviet Union; in 1961 for the American Friends Service Committee; in 1962 for Earlham College; and in 1964, leading a group of college age young people on a trip by truck, camping behind the Iron Curtain.

Joel is survived by his wife Patricia of Farmington; his son David Hayden of Brattleboro, VT; his son Douglas Hayden and his wife Joan Karp of Cambridge, Mass.; his daughter Rebecca Hayden and her husband Scott Ruescher of Cambridge, Mass.; his stepson Thomas Park of Sanford, Maine; his stepson James Park and his partner Petra Montaven of Phoenix, Arizona; one grandchild; four step-grandchildren; a nephew, a niece, and their families.

He was predeceased by his first wife Ruth, sister Jean Guarnaccia and brother-in-law Samuel Guarnaccia, and his sister-in-law Joanne Burton Whisler.

A Memorial Service will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Old South First Congregational Church, Main St. Farmington. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Joel’s memory to Old South First Congregational Church, 227 Main St., Farmington, ME 04938. Arrangements under the care of Adams-McFarlane Funeral & Cremation Services, 108 Court St., Farmington. Condolences may be sent for the family at www.adamsmcfarlane.com.