Richard J. Hayner

Richard J. Hayner, beloved husband of the late Gracemarie (Harley) Hayner, and son of the late Clifford Hayner and Marion (File) Hayner, passed away on Monday,  February 27, 2017 at the age of 86. He was born and grew up in Brunswick, NY and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) with a BSEE. He has been retired from Northeast Utilities for over 26 years. During his retirement, he and Gracemarie volunteered for the Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity, helping build houses for over 10 years. 

Richard met his wife-to-be on a blind date arranged by mutual friends, the late Jean and Paul Berger, where they went to dinner and dancing. They continued to dance their way through life together for the next 58 years doing square dancing, country western, polka, Cajun, swing and ballroom. Richard danced multiple times per week until just days before his passing. A special dancing memory they shared, was dancing the Blue Danube Waltz to the music of a Romanian band on a Bulgarian boat cruising the Blue Danube River between Vienna and Budapest. 

Richard leaves behind three devoted children: Anne E. Hayner of North Attleboro, MA; Mark R. Hayner and his wife Cathleen (Dowler) Hayner of Bedford, NH; John C. Hayner and his wife Laura (Watts) Hayner of Bristol, CT; five remarkable grandchildren: Katherine (Hayner) Bourque, and her husband, Nicholas Bourque, Kristina Hayner, Nicole Hayner, Jason Dobbins and Genevive Rios, Justin Dobbins; one adored great grandchild, Jaime Jae Dobbins; his sister, Carol (Hayner) Edwards and her husband David of Cohoes, NY; his nephew, Christopher Edwards, his niece Mary Ann Rifenberick and her husband Chad and his grand-niece, Madison.  He was predeceased by his brother, Roger Hayner. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 1933 Hartford, CT 06144. 

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville. Burial will follow in Wonx Spring Cemetery, Southington. Calling hours will be held before the service from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.