Gianni D. Hayes (1949–2022)

[excerpt from obituary on Holloway Funeral Home website]
Higher education and academia were Gianni's passion. She was a life-long student and a college professor, in addition to being an accomplished author of more than 20 published books and hundreds of articles and short stories. Her love of lecturing led her to host a talk radio program and to travel worldwide speaking on cruise ships on such topics as politics, religion, and the humanities. After earning a Master's degree in Christian counseling, she served as a minister and a volunteer hospital chaplain. Gianni helped found the Writers Bloc of the Eastern Shore, and she served on various boards throughout the community.

She earned her Bachelor's degree from Villa Maria College, now part of Gannon University in biology/chemistry, and two Master's degrees from Duquesne University in medical bioresearch, education, and administration. Gianni was most proud of earning her Ph.D., Summa cum laude, in comparative literature from the University of Maryland College Park.

It was during her years as a graduate student at Duquesne that she met her husband of 45 years, James R. Hayes, who passed away in February 2021. Jim and Gianni started their family in Pittsburgh, PA, where they resided until 1984 when they moved to Salisbury. She was a die-hard Steelers football fan, a lover of Broadway and classical music, and enjoyed traveling with her husband.