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
Well, I know that it has been over a year now, Brian and I lost contact about four years ago. For the last year or so I have really wanted to contact him, see what up. Yesterday, a guy came to my restaurant; I thought that it was Brian. So I finally decided, go Google “Number Six” and at least get an email address…. What I got was not what I barganed for. This is not real.
I met Brian almost ten years ago while I was working at a horse farm in Poolesville. Jerry introduced me to Brian and I watched Iggy when Brian would go on work tips until he died. Some of you may know me as the “room mate” or family members called me the “snake lady” (at least the kids did after I brought a huge snake in the house during a family holiday party). I remember meeting his family, everyone so happy and full of life. It was like have 20 Brian’s around.
I have read everyone’s blog… I can still hear his voice in my head. I can still hear his laugh, it weird after all this time. I always loved being around him, full of life, he was bigger than life… crazy nights at a Halloween hay rides with a flask of bourbon, racing against each other in his jag and Mercedes (he always won), our annual barbeque at the Potomac Hunt Race, playing pool in the basement…. my favorite was when we would watch the Simpsons and he would always laugh at me…. because I always laughed at the commercials more than the show. He would tell everyone about it and just laugh, it cracked him up.
He always found greatness in the smallest details of life, the ones that everyone else over looked.
I really miss my days when me Jerry and Brian would all hang out. They always watched out for me. They always accepted me for who I am (I’m a bit free minded). No matter how low I was Brian never judged me. He is the real deal when it comes to being a friend. I am fortunate to of had the time I did with him. Shame on me for thinking that the privilege would be available at a whim.
I always wondered if he would have a child, my heart broke when I saw the picture of Asher and Brian. I have met his wife, and my heart goes out to you Tamara.
I know this is really choppy, there is so much going on in my head. And Jerry, I am so sorry. I know that you guys have been best friends for over 25 years. He loved you very much.
Goodbye Brian, give Iggy a hug for me. Watch over your family… love you.
Sarah Vogel
I am just now learning of the loss of Brian. My experience was like that of the previous poster’s. I was trying to track him down to refer someone to him when I came across this page, and I am stunned and saddened by the news. I met Brian at a WOAD meeting (Washington Object Architecture and Design) and we would touch base from time to time at meetings and such around town. When I was working on a book many years ago, we gathered folks from that community to review and provide feedback on the early drafts. Brian was an insightful and generous contributor. We will be missed in the software community.
David Kane
Wow…just learned about Brian’s heading onto the big blue. We shared a long passionate love affair when we were both at GTE, and we both plowed ahead in our lives after that, with both of us finding success and balance in love, career, and family. It’s ironic that he would leave so early, because he was so full of life all the time. He enriched my life, taught me many things, and made memories that I still giggle about (Echo and the Bunnymen, the Romantics at the 930 club, intellectually sparing, stolen moments at GTE, and lots more). I’m so happy that he lived fully and didn’t miss a thing. Brian–I look forward to seeing you again and saying hey…