Frank Joseph Hayden, CC OOnt (January 11, 1930 – May 16, 2026) was a Canadian physical education and kinesiology academic, and a pioneer of the Special Olympics from Oakville, Ontario.
Frank Hayden | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 11, 1930 Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | May 16, 2026 (aged 96) Oakville, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Academic |
| Known for | Legally incorporated "Special Olympics Inc" |
Background
editHayden was born in Windsor, Ontario on January 11, 1930[1][2] and lived in Burlington. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) at the University of Western Ontario in 1955, and a Master of Science (MS) in 1958 and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 1962 at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign,[3] with a major that combined exercise with psychology.[4] Hayden joined the faculty of the University of Western Ontario in 1964, then became director of the School of Physical Education and Athletics at McMaster University in 1975.[3][5] He retired from McMaster in 1988.[3] He died in Oakville, Ontario on May 16, 2026, at the age of 96.[6][7]
Special Olympics
editWhile at Western in the early 1960s, Hayden researched fitness programs for disabled children. While working at the School of Physical and Health Education (now Kinesiology and Physical Education) at the University of Toronto, he was advised by his supervisor about an available grant to investigate the fitness and motor skills of children with intellectual disabilities.[4][8] Following his supervisor's advice Hayden discovered there was very little information published on this topic; as he later told the Canadian Encyclopedia, he realized that he could become an "instant expert".[4] Hayden pioneered the idea that people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, such as autism or Down syndrome, could benefit greatly from physical activities increasing their mental and physical capacities.[9]
His research titled Physical fitness for the mentally retarded : a manual for teachers and parents published in 1964[4] became known to Mrs. Eunice Shriver, sister of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy[8], at the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation; for two years Hayden helped produce and build a fitness program and establish legislation to accommodate persons with disabilities.
In 1968, he and Shriver organized the first Chicago Inaugural Special Olympics with the Kennedy Foundation and the Chicago Park District, and legally incorporated Special Olympics Inc. The event drew participating athletes from 25 states as well as a Canadian floor hockey team[10]. He then established roughly 50 additional Special Olympics organizations worldwide. Today this program supplies training and friendly rivalry for more than three million athletes with disabilities in over 170 countries.[11][12] Hayden served as executive director of the Special Olympics from 1968 to 1972,[3] founded and led the Office of European Affairs for Special Olympics International in Paris from 1988 to 1990,[13] and was a special consultant to the Canadian Special Olympics from 1994 to 2000.[13]
Honours
editHayden was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada (OC) in 2000, and promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada (CC) by former governor general Michaelle Jean on behalf of Gov. Gen. Mary Simon in the 2022 Canadian honours.[14][15] He was appointed a Member of the Order of Ontario (OOnt) in 2012.[16] A plaque in his honour was unveiled outside his former laboratory in Thames Hall at Western University in April 2012.[17][12] He also received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal,[18] the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal,[19] and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.[20]
Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School in Burlington, Ontario was named in his honour in 2013.[21] In 2016 he was awarded the Order of Sport, marking his induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.[22][10] He received honorary degrees from McMaster University (1997),[13] the University of Calgary (1988),[13] the University of Toronto (1999),[13] Saint Mary's University, Halifax (2004),[13][23] the University of Western Ontario (2011),[24] and Memorial University of Newfoundland (2017).[25]
Accolades
editGail Hamamoto, Special Olympics Canada CEO, stated that Hayden's work opened doors for people.[10]
"Frank Hayden changed the lives of millions of people because he believed something long before many others did — that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserved the same opportunities to participate, compete, belong and discover their full potential through sport."[10]
Chris Lewis, a former Ontario Provincial Police commissioner and retiree, told of how Hayden's advocacy affected thousands of intellectually disabled people around the world. He recounted how his brother, who was autistic would not speak to strangers before the exercise programs. According to Lewis he now has interpersonal skills[10]
Amy Van Impe said Sunday she was feeling sad about Hayden's death but grateful that she got to let him know that he was her superhero the last time she saw him at an Special Olympics event a few years ago.
44-year-old Special Olympics athlete Amy Van Impe said "I got to tell him how important he was."[9] She described herself as having an intellectual disability and being autistic. She added that Hayden gave her the confidence to help and understand other people's differences.[10]
References
edit- ↑ "Hall of Famers | Canada's Sports Hall of Fame | Home".
- ↑ "Frank Hayden". Ontario Heritage Trust. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 "Frank J. Hayden, MS '58, PhD '62 – Professor Emeritus and Special Olympics Visionary – McMaster University". University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Gabriel, Trip (29 May 2026). "Frank Hayden, Who Led Global Growth of the Special Olympics, Dies at 96". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "Frank Hayden". McMaster University. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ Stewart, Monte (19 May 2026). "Visionary Dr. Frank Hayden built the Special Olympics into a lasting movement". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ "Dr. Frank Hayden Obituary". Smith's Funeral Home. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- 1 2 Email, Share by; Facebook, Share on; X, Share on; LinkedIn, Share on; Message, Share via Text (18 May 2026). "Frank Hayden, Canadian researcher who ignited Special Olympics movement, dies at 96". Coast Reporter. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - 1 2 Email, Share by; Facebook, Share on; X, Share on; LinkedIn, Share on; Message, Share via Text (18 May 2026). "Frank Hayden, Canadian researcher who ignited Special Olympics movement, dies at 96". Coast Reporter. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - 1 2 3 4 5 6 Baig, Fakiha; read, Aaron Sousa·3 min (18 May 2026). "Frank Hayden, Canadian researcher who ignited Special Olympics movement, dies at 96". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Dr. Frank J. Hayden". Halton District School Board. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- 1 2 Glover, Craig (5 April 2012). "Where a dream came true". The London Free Press. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Frank J. Hayden". St. Mary's University. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "Mr. Frank Joseph Hayden". Governor-General of Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Order of Canada appointees - June 2022". 21 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ↑ "27 Appointees Named To Ontario's Highest Honour". Ontario.ca. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Special Olympics Ontario to honour Frank Hayden at Western ceremony". Western University. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "Mr. Frank J. Hayden". Governor-General of Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Frank J. Hayden". Governor-General of Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Frank Hayden". Governor-General of Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Halton high school named for Special Olympics founder Frank Hayden". Burlington Post. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ Russell, Scott (1 November 2016). "Special Olympics' Dr. Frank Hayden transformed lives of millions". CBC Sports. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ↑ "Honorary Degrees 1990 – Present". Saint Mary's University. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ Travis, Heather (27 October 2011). "Don't miss your moment to shine: Hayden". Western University. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "Honorary degree recipients announced" (Press release). Memorial University of Newfoundland. 5 April 2017. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
