Lynne Howard Irwin

1941 - 2016

Irwin, Lynne Howard

On August 2, 2016, Lynne passed away peacefully at his home after a long battle with complications of type II diabetes. Lynne was 75 years old.

Lynne was born in 1941 and raised in Los Angeles, CA, the only child of Lorne and Beverly Irwin. He attended UC Berkeley for his undergraduate degree where he met his wife, Diana, while he waited in line for registration. After completing their bachelor's degrees and marrying, Lynne and Diane moved to Cal State Chico where he completed a master's degree and they would welcome their first two children. Lynne and family then moved to College Station, TX where he earned a doctorate at Texas A & M University.

In the early 1970s Dr. Irwin was hired by Cornell University as a professor in the Engineering department where he remained until his retirement in 2014. Lynne was an expert in highway and pavement design and known throughout New York State as the "Pot Hole Potentate" aka director of the Cornell Local Roads Program for more than 40 years.

Lynne was a collector of classic cars and could often be seen traveling around Cornell campus in one of his fixed-up convertibles with his beloved dog enjoying the breeze in the passenger seat. He enjoyed traveling the world both for leisure with his family and to educate other countries on the best practices in pavement design. He has passport stamps from Sweden to Saudi Arabia to South Africa and many points in between.

His wife Diana, preceded Lynne in death in 2012. He is no doubt overjoyed to be reunited with her as he has missed her very much.

Lynne is survived by his three children: Jennifer Irwin, Andrew Irwin, and Nancy Easley, as well as his four grandchildren: Alexander Irwin, Natalie Irwin, Ellie Easley, and Caitlin Easley.

A memorial service for Lynne Irwin will be held at his home on August 27, 2016 starting at 3 pm. His name will be added to the Irwin stone bench sitting aside the sledding hill at Quick Cemetery in Brooktondale. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Hospicare & Palliative Care Services of Ithaca as they were so helpful with the passing of both Lynne and Diana.