Chuck Hayward Memorial Fund

This is a memorial fund in honor of Chuck Hayward for his angelic caregiver, Daniel. Daniel cared for Chuck in his final days with love and compassion. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Daniel and his family. Chuck’s last words were, “Take care of Daniel.”

Daniel's wife will be giving birth in Ghana to their first child this January. The money raised in memory of Chuck will go toward their medical care so that she can deliver their baby in a safe, private hospital.

Remembering Charles B. Hayward

On July 23, 2023 at 7:20 p.m, this remarkable man passed, a month after celebrating his 92nd birthday.

Born on June 24, 1931, Chuck was raised by his mom, Helen Byrne Hayward, and her second husband, Milton Hayward, first in Springfield and then as a teenager in East Longmeadow. Chuck’s father, Charles Higginbotham, passed before Chuck was born.

A graduate of Classical High School, Chuck served in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss., where among his lettering and sign-making duties he had the unique task of creating drawings to illustrate autopsy reports. Following discharge, he returned to his job in the display department for the Forbes & Wallace store in downtown Springfield. He soon reconnected with Irene Webler, who was completing her

nursing studies at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Quickly realizing they were soulmates, Chuck and Irene married in 1954.

Chuck studied art at Pratt Institute in New York and later earned his MFA at Boston University. He taught art in the Springfield Public Schools, always yearning to see in person the places and art about which he was reading and teaching.

Finally, an opportunity to travel arose during his 18 years teaching art and art history at Bay Path Junior College. Irene and Chuck created their own tour organization called Hayward Cultural Tours, or HCT. Irene told many that the acronym really meant “Help Chuck Travel.” He would choose a place that interested him, and Irene would work on the logistics of the tour while Chuck researched the aspects of the places that he found fascinating. If it fascinated him, he was certain it would fascinate others. Later, he and Irene led tours with the Springfield Library and Museums Association, both nationally and internationally.

Chuck fell and fractured his hip on June 28 and had a complicated medical course post operatively. He passed peacefully and comfortably at home in East Longmeadow, surrounded by family and friends.