Arthur Stewart Hayes

Arthur Hayes
December 12, 1952 – October 28, 2025

Arthur was known for his quick wit and sharp sense of humor — if there was a joke to be found or made, Arthur would be the one to tell it. Beneath his humor, however, was a man of deep principle and conviction. He held ethics and integrity in the highest regard, and his lifelong passion was the law and the protection of free speech. As an educator, he dedicated his career to teaching First Amendment rights and media law, inspiring generations of students to think critically and defend the power of expression.

Arthur had a profound love and knowledge of music history, from performers to songwriters. His favorites included The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and The Beatles. It was not uncommon to hear him burst into one of his favorite tunes while working on one of his many books.

A devoted basketball fan, Arthur’s love for the game began early — as a boy, he would head straight from school to the nearest court to shoot hoops. He remained a passionate supporter of the New York Knicks throughout his life, never missing a game night.

Arthur was the published author of four influential books on law and media: Press Critics are the Fifth Estate, Mass Media Law, Symphony for the Cyberbully, and Communication in the Age of Trump.

He retired after more than twenty years as a professor at Fordham University, following earlier teaching positions at Quinnipiac University. In addition to his academic work, Arthur was an accomplished writer whose articles appeared in Tennis Magazine, The American Lawyer, The Wall Street Journal, and Horizon Magazine.

Arthur is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothy Davino Hayes, and his devoted mother, Florie Hayes.

He is also survived by his brother, Wayne Hayes; his nephew Kwame Hayes, and his wife Tonya, and daughter Tiana along with their granddaughter Mila; his niece Briana Bennett and husband Bob, along with their children Maya and Parker.

Arthur is also survived by his stepchildren:
Paul and Beth Cereghini, Lisa and Brian Lersner, Lenore Cereghini, Lauren and Don Gergle.

His memory will also be cherished by his grandchildren — Tony, Bobby, Kate, Rick, Andrew, Rob, Steve, Lindsay, Hannah, Joy, Noah, and Faith — and his great-grandchildren — Elliott, Paul, Bella, Weston, Liza, Lana, Uriah, and Arlo.

Arthur was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Lee Hayes, his beloved grandchildren Michael and Nathanial, and his precious great-granddaughter Zoe.

Arthur’s humor, intellect, and unwavering belief in the power of words will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Service:
Service will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 11:00 at St. Johns Episcopal Church, 628 Main St, Stamford, CT 06901

The family asks for donations instead of flowers to be made in Arthur's name to the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, https://www.foodbanklfc.org/.

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