Dennis (Denny) Hayes
Long-time Washtenaw County attorney Dennis Hayes died October 24 from complications due to congestive heart failure.
A Detroit native, Hayes was born April, 25, 1941, and lived with his family in Detroit until they moved to Grayling in 1948.
Hayes completed his undergraduate degree at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, then attended Wayne State University Law School.
After graduation in 1967, he joined the Peace Corps and served in the Ivory Coast, Africa, after which he traveled extensively. He then moved to New York City to work on John Lindsay’s mayoral campaign before returning to Michigan to begin his law practice in Ann Arbor.
He represented clients in civil rights, criminal and cannabis cases ultimately seeing the victorious end to his long fight to legitimize marijuana. He was particularly proud of his participation on the “Ten for Two” John Sinclair case (1971) that was supported by a benefit concert headlined by John Lennon and Stevie Wonder at Crisler Arena. A self-employed attorney, Hayes was retired by the pandemic.
A celebration of life service will be held at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti on Saturday, November 8, starting at noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider making a donation to the Innocence Project or the Ann Arbor Film Festival in honor of his memory.
Walter Goldsmith
Walter Goldsmith, 89, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, died October 12, 2025. Beloved husband of 38 years of Sherry Goldsmith. Cherished father of Susan Goldsmith, Ellen (Sam Levitt) Goldsmith, Mark (the late Katlyn) Ruda, and Michael Ruda. Proud grandfather of Harrison and Davis Finney, Jacob, Zach, and Rachel Levitt, and Benjamin Ruda. Loving brother of the late Daniel Goldsmith. Dear brother-in-law of Judy Goldsmith. Adoring uncle of Meryl Goldsmith and Lindsey (Mark Weiss) Goldsmith-Weiss. Devoted son of the late Irving and the late Miriam Goldsmith.
Walter Goldsmith was born in Detroit and grew up in Mt. Clemens where he graduated high school. He went on to attend the University of Michigan where he joined the Sammy (Sigma Alpha Mu) fraternity and made lifelong friends there. After graduation from U of M, Walter went on to attend law school at Wayne State University. A Life Master in bridge, he was a brilliant attorney, a decades long fan of Detroit area sports with an enduring passion for the University of Michigan football team.
