June 29, 1980 - July 13, 2019
Isaac was always a character. Joyful, mischievous, inventive, creative.
His real love was his music. Perhaps it was destiny, as he had been named after the great funk master Isaac Hayes. Whatever the reason, at age 10 he picked up a guitar and never looked back. His dream was to create music, and he would eventually record and mix his own songs. He shopped his self-produced album to radio stations in Toronto and New York, where one track even made it into the top 10 of a station's playlist for a week. The brief taste of success was intoxicating.
Isaac worked hard to support his art. He began window washing on high-rise towers in downtown Toronto, and not long after he began, his mischievous sense of humour helped him become infamous after he taped a few words on the exterior of a CN Tower window while suspended a thousand feet above the ground.
He died in a workplace accident July 13. He was described by his friends, co-workers and self-declared brother, Rob Moses, as 'a great guy who always had your back'. We can think of no more fitting tribute.
Isaac was pre-deceased by his father, optometrist Vic Hawes. His sisters, Jennie Hawes and Tawnia Jobin, and mother, Linda Hawes will miss forever that infectious laughter, impish grin and generosity of spirit.
Forget the past, I shall let it burn
If my anchor is raised and shines polished Then the warmth of the sun that will reflect on you With rust scraped and chain replaced
We shall set sail and my anchor will be lowered In a better place.