Norman T. Byrnes

Home at last!

Norm was chief counsel for our public projects at the Massachusetts Government Land Bank. Could not have functioned well without his always sound counsel, as we structured financing for projects with public benefits. I was pretty inexperienced, young and still wet behind the years. On occasion, he would sit in on negotiations. I would tell him that I needed his "gray temples"at the bargaining table. I learned so much from him! Remember going to breakfast with him and his beloved...

Norm was outside attorney for us at the Massachusetts Land Bank- one of those quasi independents with flexibility on financing deals for projects with public benefits. Norm´s practical knowledge of deal making was valued by this young professional. Just as much, Norm helped just by sitting at the table with some of our unorthodox developers seeking funds. His grey temples foreshadowed the deep knowledge and experience, but his creative approach was essential in crafting successful...

Betty, I have great memories of you and Norman. Your friendship, your concern for others, the two of you are in my prayers always.

Norm was in a class all by himself. A great person, lawyer, mentor and friend. He was always great to talk to and brought humor and common sense to so many situations. It was great fun in recent years to get together for lunch with Norm and other lawyer vets. All of us looked up to him for his service in WW II and the battlefield commission he earned in Europe. Similarly, getting together with the men who made the Mass Tpk what it once was in its glory days was also a treat. Norm's phone...

Norm has left us all with so many good memories to share. Who will ever forget his ready smile, his sense of humor, his many hats? I feel privileged to have known him and to have been in his 'birthday book' these many years. What a wonderful man! What a tremendous loss...

Norm Byrnes was a wonderful mentor to the young associates at Ely, Bartlett, Brown & Proctor in Boston. All will remember the big smile, the arm around your shoulder as one walked down the hall, and the kind and wise advice. Norm was famous for his collection of hats, back in the time when men did wear something other than a baseball cap; Norm had a Bowler, a big Cheyenne Crown cowboy hat, and a Russian fur hat! All will remember his collection of big and fancy pens, just inside his suit...