Brian Patrick Hayes

Brian Patrick John Hayes of Easton, Connecticut, died on January 22, 2022, while serving in the Connecticut Army National Guard in Augusta, Georgia. He was a Staff Sergeant at the time of his death, but posthumously promoted to Sergeant First Class.

Brian was born on May 11, 1965, the eldest child of John Hayes and Florence (Hanlon) Hayes of Redding, Connecticut.

Brian graduated from Joel Barlow High School in Redding in 1983, after which he traveled across the United States and took up residence in Colorado, where he spent several years perfecting his telemark and downhill skiing and working for the National Ski Patrol.

Brian had a lifelong love of the wilderness and reveled in all aspects of outdoor adventure, exploration and survival. In 1985, Brian embarked on a solo mountain bike trip that began in central Colorado and took him north through the Rocky Mountain range, into the Yukon Territory and ended in Alaska.

Upon his return to Redding, Brian founded Connecticut Woodshingle Roofs, an enterprise that reflected his interest in traditional carpentry and historic preservation.  Among his numerous carpentry projects, Brian contributed many hours of effort to reconstructing the roof of the original St Patrick Church in Redding, now known as Mercy Hall.

During this time, he also joined the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard, located in Newtown, where he served for several years.

Moved by the events of September 11, 2001, Brian enlisted in the Army National Guard, where he initially trained as a combat infantryman at Fort Benning, Georgia, later changing his specialty to Military Police. In this role, he deployed with his unit and served for a year in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  His awards included the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terror Service Medal.

In December 2021, Brian moved to the 169 Aviation Unit, based in Windsor Locks. Brian was dearly loved by his fellow soldiers, family and friends and will be profoundly missed.

Brian is survived by his son, Patrick Hayes, his parents, and his sisters, Mary Kate Hayes and Sheila (Hayes) Goffe. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church, Redding on Friday, February 4, 2022 at 12:00 PM. Burial with military honors will follow at St Mary Cemetery, Bethel. The family will receive friends at the Bethel Funeral Home, 215 Greenwood Ave., Bethel, Friday from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM before processing to church. To leave an on-line condolence, please visit hullfuneralservice.com