Dennis Dale Hayden

Dennis Dale Hayden, age 82, of Rochester, and Sanford, N.C., died at Emerald Health and Rehabilitation Center on April 3, 2024.

Dennis was born in Rochester Nov. 16, 1941. He was the only child of George Norman Hayden and Betty Lou Barnette Hayden Fisher. At a young age, Dennis developed a love for Lake Manitou and the water, which remained throughout his lifetime. As a young man he enjoyed water skiing, dancing and was an athlete who excelled in multiple sports – baseball, basketball and football. He graduated from Rochester High in 1960.

After graduation, Dennis enlisted in the United States Navy where he proudly served his country for 20 years. While in the Navy, he married Ivah Mae Allen in 1962 and welcomed their daughter, Dawn, in 1963. During the Vietnam War, Dennis served aboard the USS Benewah, the flagship for the Commander Task Force (CTF117) and the Mobile Riverine Force operating in the Mekong Delta. The Navy provided Dennis with the opportunity to explore the world. He traveled to the Arctic, Europe and Asia. After 20 years of military service, Dennis retired from the Navy and accepted a position as a contractor with the Pinkerton Security Group in Washington D.C. where he worked as a system administrator. Dennis also published numerous articles on Wang computers for numerous publications. His second career also enabled him to travel which included Russia – where he helped to set up the U.S. Embassy's computer system – and Camaroon, Africa. For the last 13 years of his career, he was assigned to the computer task force serving the Secretary of State where he worked for Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, and Condoleezza Rice.

When Dennis retired for the last time, he moved to Sanford, N.C. He married Loretta Eber Erichsen in November 2008. After marrying Loretta, Dennis split his retirement life between Rochester and Sanford. In his retirement Dennis enjoyed racing model boats, dancing and playing pool. Frequently, he could be found regaling his friends with tales from his many adventures.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Loretta Hayden; daughter Dawn and her husband, Rick Dollieslager of West Point, Va.; two grandsons, Andrew DeMers (Tracey) and great granddaughter Mae DeMers of Austin, Texas, and Dr. Daniel DeMers (Nicole) of Tucson, Arizona.

Graveside services with military rites will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, Octoebr 9, 2024, at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Rochester, Indiana.

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