Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:
WILMINGTON, MA — Gordon E. Hayward, age 87, of North Reading, MA, formerly a longtime resident of Wilmington, MA, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026.
Gordon was born in Malden, MA on August 17, 1938, and was the beloved son of the late Charles and Ruth (Bergkuist) Hayward. He was raised and educated in Melrose, MA, where he was active as a youth, participating in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and playing church youth basketball. Gordon graduated from Melrose High School and went on to Northeastern University in Boston, earning his bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
In April of 1961, Gordon enlisted in a reserve component of the armed forces and continued his service until being honorably discharged in April of 1967.
In 1963, Gordon married his sweetheart, Nancy Merritt. The couple settled in Wilmington in 1965, making their home in the Hathaway Acres neighborhood, where they raised their family. Gordon continued his education at Northeastern University, where he earned his master’s degree in Business Administration.
Gordon’s first job was working in his father’s grocery store, Barney’s Market in Everett, which was a memory he spoke of fondly. He later went on to a long and successful career as a banker with the First National Bank of Boston, from which he retired after 30 years as an assistant vice president in the Treasury & Investment Banking Group.
He was an active member of the Wilmington Kiwanis Club, generously volunteering his time and talents for many fundraising efforts, and was a longtime member of the Congregational Church in Wilmington. Ever proud of his Swedish heritage, he was also a member of the Vasa Order of America and Birka Lodge of Danvers, MA. In his free time, Gordon enjoyed bowling, gardening, sports, and traveling. Family was very important to him, and he made every effort to attend all the school and extracurricular events that he could.
Following his retirement in 1992, Gordon and Nancy embraced their freedom to travel and then eventually relocated to North Reading, MA, where they became members of the Union Congregational Church. The couple also enjoyed many years as snowbirds in St. Augustine, FL, escaping New England winters.
Gordon was the beloved husband of Nancy (Merritt) Hayward; the devoted father of Sharon Williams of North Reading, MA, and Sandra Bakos and her husband Keith of Flemington, NJ; and the loving “Grampy” to Sarah Williams and Sonja Williams of North Reading, MA, and Alex Bakos and Ashley Bakos of Flemington, NJ. He was the dear brother of the late Winona Quick.
Family and friends are invited to gather for a memorial service on Saturday, January 31st, at 11:00 a.m. at the Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill Street, North Reading, MA 01864.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gordon’s memory may be made to the Union Congregational Church of North Reading and mailed to the above address.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Nichols Funeral Home, Wilmington, MA. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.
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