Farewell Brian Lyons
This past weekend, my dear friend Brian Lyons passed away after being in a motorcycle accident.
I have known Brian since 1992 when we were both at Rational Software. Back then, I found him to be a very funny, warm, and genuine person, who went out of his way to help other folks. He stayed the same wonderful person to the end of his too short life.
Over the years, my admiration for Brian as a person and a business leader has grown. He is my hero - an example of the kind of person I try to be.
hiho,
I always knew the message was from Brian with this typical greeting.
This is very formal for Brian!
Brian as we were used to seeing him.
Another typical Brian photo.
——- b
Brian’s unique signature.
Brian lived a lot in his short life, and was very happy and fulfilled. In a message from him in November 2006:
“Tamara and I are going to have a son toward the end of December. And Number Six is looking like it will have a $29.25M year. All is going well for me personally and professionally.”
Be at peace, dear friend. Though you are gone from this Earth, you live on in our hearts. I miss you terribly, but will remember your goodness.
Another tribute to Brian is here: http://www.implementingscrum.com/blog/2007/09/05/in-memory-of-a-friend/
You can see the official news, information about his funeral, and a blog with more tributes from friends at Number Six Software, the company he founded, was CEO, and CTO: http://www.numbersix.com
The photos are from Number Six software and friends Greg Gurley and Dave Norris
You will certainly be missed by your friends and family.
It was my pleasure having the opportunity to know you.
DG
[...] Geri Winters: Farewell Brian Lyons [...]
We certainly can’t pay a contemporary tribute to Brian as so many of his co-workers and friends have so eloquently, affectionately (and technologically!) left in his memory. Regardless, we feel compelled to leave our own simple memorial . . .
My husband and I knew Brian from almost decade ago when he dated my sister, Diane. As expected, we hadn’t kept up with his present life . . . However, hearing from her today (9/6/07) about the tragic news that Brian had left this world and passed on to the next has left an empty place in our hearts and has filtered through our minds throughout the day.
From east coast to west, this event has made us reflect on the past and appreciate the present. If nothing else, we ask you to join us in hugging your loved ones and telling them you love them today, as you may not have tomorrow together. Life in this world is a great gift that we give each other.
Thinking about the Brian Lyons we knew back then, we feel some comfort in knowing he died doing one of the things he loved and enjoyed most - riding his motorcycle. We think back on the days where we gorged on blue crab and beers together at The Dancing Crab . . . his appreciation of the Simpsons . . . and gargoyles (?) . . . hearing how much he loved his family . . . (and being the ORIGINAL “#6″) . . . . it puts a smile on our faces thinking that Brian is reunited with Iggy . . . and we appreciate how cool it was that Brian let us drive his Jag from Binghamton, NY to Bethesda when we got married back in 1999 . . . we’ve reflected on that FUNKY way he dressed and groomed. (someone should have spoken with him about that! :-)!) . . . Brian was Brian, but my sister loved him back then and we got to know him and appreciated him for all that he was. Through the good and the bad, we feel it was meant to be that our paths crossed in this life.
“Each moment in time will never be quite the same again”, so enjoy it and the people around you while you have them here.
Rest in peace, Brian.
Pat & Tim
Palm Springs, CA
9/6/07