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May 29, 2025
Thomas Z. Hayward Jr. ’62, ’65 JD (’89, ’90, ’94 P) (’24 GP), Northwestern University life trustee, past president of the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) and leader of many class reunions and initiatives, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 24, 2025. He was 85 years old.
“Tom’s service to Northwestern was exemplary in every sense. Over more than four decades, he exhibited sharp judgment, institutional memory and genuine care for the University’s well-being,” said Patrick G. Ryan ’59, ’09 H (’97, ’00 P), former chair of the Board of Trustees and fellow life trustee. “He was a thoughtful voice among Trustees — steadfast, collegial and always focused on what was best for Northwestern. I was fortunate to work alongside him for many years, and his presence and his friendship will be deeply missed.”
Hayward received both his bachelor’s degree in political science, with honors, and his law degree from Northwestern. As an undergraduate, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. In his final year of law school, he received the Wigmore Key, awarded to the student who has done the most to uphold the traditions of the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. He went on to earn an MBA at the University of Chicago in 1970.
Hayward served on Northwestern’s Board of Trustees as a limited-term alumni trustee from 1980 to 1984. He was reelected to the Board in 1997 as a national trustee, became a charter trustee in 2000 and then was honored as a life trustee in 2010. He served as a vice chair of the Board from 2000 to 2009 and chaired the Alumni Relations and Development Committee from 2000 to 2010.
“Tom loved Northwestern deeply, and it showed in everything he did — as a passionate alumnus, and as a trusted leader in our community,” said Northwestern President Michael Schill. “He gave so much of himself to this University, and his legacy will always be a part of Northwestern. Our hearts go out to Sally and the entire Hayward family.”
A dedicated alumnus, Hayward was president of the NAA from 1976 to 1980 and chaired or co-chaired multiple reunion committees for the Class of 1962. He also chaired the Alumni Regents, was president of the Northwestern Club of Chicago and served as a director of the Northwestern Gridiron Network. The NAA honored Hayward with an Alumni Service Award in 1974 and the Northwestern Alumni Medal, the highest distinction granted to alumni, in 2012.
“It would not be an understatement to say that all of the good things in my life have started or happened because of my association with Northwestern,” Hayward said in 2012.
Hayward and his wife, Sally Madden Hayward ’61, whom he met at a Northwestern-Notre Dame football game in 1959, have been consummate supporters of Northwestern. From 1998 to 2003, he co-chaired Campaign Northwestern, which raised more than $1.5 billion for the University and was the largest fundraising initiative in the school’s history until We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern launched in 2014. He also served on committees for the “We Will” Campaign, notably as co-chair of the Florida Regional Campaign Committee and co-chair of the Gift Planning Committee.
“Tom and I were fraternity brothers at Northwestern, fellow trustees and close friends for many years. We both made our home in Naples and spoke regularly, often about our shared devotion to the University. His passing is not only a personal loss, but also a profound loss for Northwestern,” said trustee Dan Jones ’61 (’91 P).
Northwestern roots run deep in the Hayward family, which includes five generations of alumni. Hayward’s father, Thomas Hayward Sr., graduated in 1924 and received an Alumni Service Award in 1950 and a Merit Award in 1959. Following the death of Thomas Hayward Sr. in 1985, Tom and Sally established a memorial fund in his name benefiting Northwestern Athletics facilities and continued to support the University and Athletics in numerous ways, including most recently the new Ryan Field, Ryan Fieldhouse and Trienens Performance Center.
All three of Thomas Hayward Jr. and Sally’s sons — Thomas Hayward III ’89, ’94 MBA, MD; Wallace Hayward ’90; and Bob Hayward ’94, ’97 JD — and Bob’s son Trevor Hayward ’24, ’25 MS, earned degrees at Northwestern.
An expert in land use and general corporate matters, Hayward retired from the law firm K&L Gates in 2013 after a lengthy career with a number of Chicago-area law firms. He was admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court in 1971. Hayward was a past president of the Chicago Bar Association, a founding member of its Young Lawyers Section and former president and director of the Chicago Bar Foundation. Among his many civic affiliations, Hayward was a former director at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
In addition to his wife, Sally, Hayward is survived by their three sons and daughters-in-law: Thomas Z. Hayward III (Lisa); Wallace M. Hayward (Jenny); and Robert M. Hayward (Liz); seven grandchildren: Riley (30), Hope (27), Trevor (23), Maggie (22), Eleanor (21), Charlie (20) and Griffin (18); three step-grandchildren: Josephine Horchak (34), Audrey Arbogast (28) and Clark Arbogast (26); and his sister Wilhelmina Hayward, his brother Peter W. Hayward (Debbie) and his nephew Peter-Owen Hayward.
“While we all mourn the profound loss of my dad, we are also filled with gratitude — for the life he lived, the values he instilled, the example he set and all the laughs and experiences we have shared. His presence and impact enriched the lives of so many,” said Hayward’s son, Trustee Robert “Bob” Hayward ’94, ’97 JD (’24 P).
A celebration of life will be held in Evanston at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sept. 6, starting at 1:30 p.m CT. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts be made to Northwestern Athletics.
