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JONATHAN BYRNES Obituary

BYRNES, Jonathan L. S. Age 75 years, of Lexington, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. For 47 years, he was the beloved husband of Marsha (Feinman) Byrnes. Loving father of Dan and Steve Byrnes and father-in-law of Nicole Ledoux and the late Kristin Szatkiewicz Byrnes. Adored grandfather of Edison, George and Adrian. Dear brother of Pamela Byrnes and Rick Jacobsen. He was an independent consultant and cofounder of Profit Isle, Inc. He taught Supply Chain Management at MIT for 33 years and was President of the Harvard Alumni Association from 2007-8. Services at Temple Isaiah, 55 Lincoln St., Lexington on Friday, May 10 at 10am with livestream viewing available using the following link: https://templeisaiahlexington.livecontrol.tv/78d73384 Burial at Beit Olam East Cemetery, 42 Concord Rd., Wayland. Memorial observance at his late residence on Saturday from 7-9pm and Sunday from 2-4pm & 7-9pm, with a Minyan service at 7:30 each evening. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Center in gratitude to Dr. Chouieri, http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/tonichoueiri or the Experimental Model of Human Sarcoma Fund, https://together.uw.edu/Campaign/Kristin Levine Chapels, Brookline 617-277-8300 www.levinechapel.com

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Published by Boston Globe from May 7 to May 8, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for JONATHAN BYRNES

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Guru Rangavittal

December 18, 2024

Miss you, Prof. Jonathan.

Peace to your family!

Sunitha Ray

June 26, 2024

Prof Jonathan was one of my favorites during my Masters in Supply Chain. His style of teaching was through case studies, he kept the class engaging and brain-tickling - and every class ended with an A-ha moment for us. He brought our class to life, and I always recommended his course as the must-take for future batches. He was also a great human being, empathetic, enthusiastic, and always doing his best to make us more empowered, enlightened and better versions of ourselves. It is a big loss to future students. May he rest in peace and may the world always have more Jonathan Brynes.

Gregory Dibb

June 26, 2024

Also I have great memories of Professor Byrnes and his class:
- Go for a walk in the middle of your workday to think--if they ask what you're doing, tell them you learned it at MIT!
- A good class is like a good musical. You should walk out humming just a couple of new tunes you learned.
I still remember the "tunes" I learned from Professor Byrnes. We'll chat again about them in the next life, though I'm guessing supply chain management might be different in heaven?

Greg Sands

June 4, 2024

I met Jonathan when I had just graduated from Harvard and found his name in the career center alumni guide. It was probably on a physical notecard at that time. I consulted with him for about 90 days before I got my long term consulting job. He gave me my first break and as a result helped launch my career. It was a characteristic act of great generosity, since I knew just about nothing at the time. RIP, Johnathan and condolences to his beautiful fmaily of which he was so proud.

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Ellen Freedman

Planted Trees

David Anderson

May 14, 2024

A brilliant professor whose ideas made a difference in the real world of business...he will be missed.

Single Memorial Tree

Roberto Reyna

Planted Trees

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Krishna Rajendran

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Derek DeScioli

May 12, 2024

Professor Byrnes was a great lecturer and mentor. He was strategic and appropriately focused on the people. He leaves quite the legacy through the thousands of students he has influenced and inspired.
- Derek

Bruce Arntzen

May 10, 2024

Others have already accurately described Jonathan as a gifted teacher beloved by his students, an innovative thinker and author, and successful entrepreneur. He was all those things and more. But I will remember Jonathan as a friend, a kind and caring colleague. He would stop by my office a couple times a week, early in the morning, just to say hello. Unhurried. We´d chat about our families, our kids, our challenges. Jonathan was a great listener and I benefited from his insights and thoughtful advice.
I´m glad I knew him. And I will miss him.

Bruce Arntzen

Low Teng Lum

May 10, 2024

Low Teng Lum

May 10, 2024

Low Teng Lum

May 10, 2024

Jonathan has been a great friend and mentor. He coached me well as a student of his MIT Master Class in Supply Chain in 1995 while I was an overseas student from Harvard. I always remember his kindness, resourcefulness and his willingness to build talents! I wish him a peaceful journey! I pray continued blessing to his family!

Liang Chen

May 10, 2024

Sad to hear the news. Professor Byrnes´ class is still vivid in memory. Thanks for the teachings. RIP. My deepest condolence to Marsha and all his family members. He will be remembered.

Single Memorial Tree

JP Farley

Planted Trees

Rafaela Nunes

May 9, 2024

I attended Jonathan's classes in Spring 2018. His teachings went beyond supply chain; he taught us to be more empathetic individuals. I owe many of my career achievements to the learning I had attending his classes. I am honored to have had the opportunity to be his student. My deepest condolences to Marsha, his family and the whole MIT community that will miss this amazing man.

Single Memorial Tree

Lisa Petrilli

Planted Trees

Guru Rangavittal

May 9, 2024

Professor Byrnes was a teacher, personal friend and mentor. He left a profound impact on so many like me. He will be greatly missed.

Single Memorial Tree

Ariahna Knight

Planted Trees

Ariahna Knight

May 9, 2024

Professor Byrnes left a profound impact on so many. As quite a few students have commented, his advice to talk a walk by the river to solve any issue or celebrate any success was memorable. And you know what, he was right. He will be greatly missed.

Ramon Mantellini

May 9, 2024

He was very kind and generous with his time and knowledge. I learnt a lot from him and his teaching will be with me forever. People only die when they are forgotten. Jonathan is not one of them.

Paul Neo

May 9, 2024

Prof Byrnes was a great, humorous and encouraging teacher - I still remember his lectures and case studies of his work in Southeast Asia. He also took the time to share advice with me after I graduated. He will be dearly missed...My condolences to his family.

Ketan Lahoti

May 9, 2024

Jonathan was an outstanding professor and above all a remarkable human being.
I still remember his words - "When in doubt, take a walk by the Charles river".

Andres Felipe Rey

May 9, 2024

His words have always been with me: if something is not working Go for a walk by the river, if you are struggling with something: Go for a walk by the river. If you can't breathe or don't feel well: Go for a walk by the river. May his soul rest in peace.

Richard Horwitz

May 9, 2024

Rest in peace, old friend, and condolences to your many friends, students, colleagues, business-associated, and family.

Aura

May 9, 2024

Professor Byrnes was an inspiration, always eager to share his knowledge and wisdom, I keep applying many of those lessons to this day. Sending my condolences to his family and hoping you find peace and comfort in these difficult times. He will be missed.

Jarrod Goentzel

May 8, 2024

Jonathan was committed to students' success, learning their names weeks before the first class session and supporting their endeavors throughout their professional journey. The holiday parties that he and Marsha held were memorable. Jonathan was an inspiration to me as a teacher and he will be missed.

Chris Creyts

May 8, 2024

I´ll always remember and appreciate Jonathan´s teachings. He was a treasured educator and invested genuine time and interest in his students.

I´ll take an extra "walk by the river" this week.

Abraham Zamcheck

May 8, 2024

Jonathan was the kindest of mentors, who generously offered his advice and support before, during, and after my time at MIT, and always tried to keep the bigger picture in mind. I was hoping to meet with him this week, and then sadly received this news. I will sorely miss him.

Grove of 100 Memorial Trees

Mike Hurley

Planted Trees

Jaime Garza

May 8, 2024

Jonathan Byrnes was an outstanding professor. I had the priviledge to attend his lectures from 2008-2011 at MIT. I remember him with a big contagious smile. He certainly inspired me to become a better leader. He will be deeply missed.

Single Memorial Tree

Kimberly Gravell

Planted Trees

Kimberly Gravell

May 8, 2024

Marsha and Byrnes Family,
My heartfelt wishes as you share in the memories of a life well-lived. Jonathan was remarkable from the moment I met him. We worked together on some amazingly innovative projects. I immediately recognized that we shared the same desire to leave a situation better than we found it. And every encounter I had with him, he certainly accomplished just that. He was brilliant, inspirational, and dedicated. He was my mentor and my friend. I will miss him very much. My heart is with you.

Allison Colbert

May 8, 2024

Thank you Marsha and family for sharing this touching tribute to a great man! I so much appreciated Jonathan's guidance in my time at the Harvard Alumni Association, may his memory be a blessing to us all. Hugs from Sydney Australia.

Roberto Perez-Franco

May 8, 2024

I will always remember the verve and richness of professor Byrnes´s lectures, and the warmth of his character. He knew each of us by name and welcomed us into his home. He was extremely proud of his kids. We were all better because of him.

Pedro Benitez

May 8, 2024

Dear Byrnes family,
Professor Byrnes gave us some of the best lectures at MIT, and to this day, I love his advice of "taking a walk by the river". He was kind, understanding, and truly a centerpiece at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. May you find strength in these difficult moments. He will always be remembered fondly.

Bob Bowie

May 8, 2024

Jonathan was a wonderful friend and mentor to so many of us at Harvard! My condolences. What a wonderful man!

Chris Rupp

May 8, 2024

I had never met Mr. Byrnes, but in 2009 I had a MBA project at University of Dayton (Ohio) where I needed to research supply chain management. I had reached out to him after reading many of his publications on the topic and he was never short on feedback, wisdom and assistance during that time. A simple gesture that I was very appreciative of, and sounds like this was just the man he was. I wish the family finds healing during this tough time.

Chris Rupp

Ed Jamieson

May 8, 2024

My thoughts are with Marsha and the Byrnes family. May the warmth of caring and friendship help you through these difficult times.

Jonathan was a fabulous mentor and a great friend. He was always willing to help when you faced a challenge. And he knew how to ask probing questions that led you to a decision rather than telling you what to do. Remarkable!

Perry Driggs

May 8, 2024

Marsha, I enjoyed reading the emails and posts Jonathan sent me periodically. We met on the Harvard Board and I always appreciated our visits and the times we spent together. Perry

Gerson Ecker

May 8, 2024

Dear Marsha,
My condolences on the passing of your husband.
Having graduated from Tech in 1955, I did know Johnathan, however I feel close to MIT and appreciate the contributions of those who have made possible its preeminence among the world´s institutions of higher education.
I will join the on-line services from Temple Isaiah on Friday. Thank you for including me among the your list of recipients of your note.
Gerson Ecker, II´55
Chicago, IL.

Luis Guell

May 8, 2024

Jonathan Byrnes was an extraordinary individual and professor. His lectures were truly works of art. I extend my deepest condolences to Marsha and his entire family during this difficult time.

Sandy Lin

May 8, 2024

Dear Byrnes family,
Thank you for Prof Byrnes´ great teaching, inspirations and innovative updates with his newsletters. He is a very special part of my MIT education and will be greatly missed.

Edward Fan

May 8, 2024

Dear Marsha,
I am so sorry to hear about Jonathan. He was my teacher at MIT and I learned so much from him, and I have always received his newsletter after graduation.

Stephen Soares

May 8, 2024

My condolences for the loss to you and your family.

Saul Kaplan

May 8, 2024

Dear Marsha. Jonathan was an important teacher and mentor to me early in my career. I am forever grateful for the difference he made in my life. My deepest condolences to you and your family.

David Markowitz

May 8, 2024

Dear Marsha,
I am so sorry to hear about Jonathan. As you know we grew up together at the beach and were friends for almost 70 years Please know that my thoughts are with you. We all will miss him.
David Markowitz

Ann Grackin

May 8, 2024

We all learned so much from Jonathan.
He was so innovative and generous in sharing his knowledge. So sorry to see him go so young and I am sure he will leave a big hole in the life of friends and family.
May you find peace and consolation in a life well spent.

Chris Caplice

May 8, 2024

Jonathan was a remarkable man and teacher. I was first a student of his (30 years ago) and later a colleague. He will be sorely missed.

John Kassakian

May 8, 2024

I´m so sorry to hear this. Jonathan and I co-supervised an LFM student. We traveled together to Switzerland and I enjoyed the company of this gentle man.

Yishai Boasson, '04 '07, President (Em.) MIT Club of Israel

May 8, 2024

Dear Marsha,
I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jonathan. Please accept my and my wife Ayelet's heartfelt condolences during this difficult time.
I was fortunate to be Jonathan's student at MIT 20 years ago, and his SC business class left a lasting impression on me. While soft spoken and kind, he was also challenging, not to say demanding on the rigor side of things, always requiring that we look at facts and figures rather than just handwaving our way through business life. He was a brilliant and inspiring educator, and his passion was truly contagious. 
Of course his and your hospitality were too something that was very significant in my and my family's MIT adventure (we came to your house to one of your famed events with our then 4 year old daughter, who really liked playing with your Tim collection :)   )
I can only imagine the profound loss you must be feeling right now. Professor Byrnes was a remarkable man, and he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this time of grief.
Sincerely,
Yishai and Ayelet Boasson

Yossi Sheff

May 8, 2024

Jonathan was an inspiration to all of us. His teachings continue to inspire his former students, many of whom continue to teach and apply his insights. We all miss him.

Bill Collins

May 8, 2024

To the Byrnes Family
Please receive my sincere condolences on the passing of Jonathan. I met him during some events we collaborated on as a result of our MIT connection.
Sincerely, William M. Collins MIT SB '65 and MIT SM '67

MIT Student

May 7, 2024

He was a remarkable teacher

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