Broken pipe: Bob Hayes

[historypiper]

Robert Elliott “Bob” Hayes, noted pipe maker and beloved husband of Pam Tarler Hayes of the Cornell & Diehl Tarlers, passed away at the age of 74 Wednesday, May 3 2017 after a short and unexpected illness. Bob was well known and respected as a pipe maker, having won several awards including Best In Show from the TAPS Club Show in Raleigh, NC. As respected as he was as an artisan, Bob was even better known as a friend and all around good person to many in the pipe community. A decorated combat veteran and linguist for the US Army, Bob was a particular favorite annually at the Chicagoland Pipe Show where his fluency in German and Russian often found him holding court at the center of large groups of some of the world’s finest and most renowned pipe makers. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Bob’s name to the Wounded Warriors Project, Lower Cape Fear Hospice, or St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Southport, NC. The obituary can be found here: http://www.peacocknewnamwhite.com/

 

[philobeddoe]

My condolences to his wife and family.

 

[elpfeife]

Grateful that you posted this. We have lost a fine man.

 

[agnosticpipe]

Really sad to hear this. I never met him but I bought one of his pipes years ago, and it's one of my favorite smokers. Condolences to his family and friends.

 

[georged]

Sad, indeed. He will be missed.

 

[raevans]

Very sad news. Bob was a very nice guy that was always quick with a smile. The world has lost a good man. Condolences to Bob's family and friends.

 

[kcghost]

A real bad deal.

 

[ssjones]

Wow, sad news. Someone on another forum just posted they bought a pipe from him at a recent show.

 

[cortezattic]

He led a distinguished and accomplished life; and from the obit, he appears to have been greatly esteemed by those he touched.

 

[mso489]

I may be the person on the other thread that ssjones mentions. At the 2016 TAPS show I was making my second tour through the tables and happened on a slack time at Bob Hayes' table that had been previously crowded. I was admiring what remained of his stock of pipes, when he looked at me seriously and mentioned a price I could hardly believe, about a third what I would have expected to pay for the pipe I was looking at. I kind of choked, and thought maybe I had misheard him, and quietly repeated the price, and he confirmed. I told him he'd made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I'd looked at his pipes and commented on their artistry the previous year as well, and I feel he was acknowledging my appreciation, which he was able to do because he'd had a good show. I thought that was an extremely kind gesture, and I wish I had been better able to express my appreciation, but I think I was sort of dazed by amazement. The pipe is a beauty, a bamboo shank straight rusticated Dublin. Bob Hayes was a great guy, and a great pipe carver.

 

[mso489]

With a bit of editing, I submitted my above post to the guest book at Bob Hayes' memorial page.

 

[jvnshr]

My condolences to his family. RIP.

 

[mso489]

historypiper, thanks for bringing this to Forums members' attention. I might not have heard about it for some time, too late to enter anything in the guest book.

 

[historypiper]

Thank you one and all for the kind thoughts and words, I'll be sure the family knows.

Historypiper

 

[deathmetal]

Seems like a really good fellow. See you on the other side, Bob.

 

[deepspringfarm]

Bob Hayes Obituary

 

[admin]

Bump for those who missed it.