04/04/2016
My grandfather died last night.
There are many things in your life that change the course of existence, death being only one of those things. The more you experience the more your path is altered, however there are those that alter your experience more than others. My grandfather was one of those that was incomparably life altering to all those that met him. He spent most of his days in the pursuit of knowledge. For many years he was a research biochemist and a graduate level teacher. Despite his professional career he spent much of his free time in the same fashion. He was always a leader, teacher or mentor to someone throughout his entire life up until days from his death. Once he retired from teaching officially he devoted his time to trying to make Frayser in Memphis a better place to live through the Frayser Community Development center. He worked diligently for years working with and running many aspects of this group. He felt that the people in that area deserved to be given a second chance when many said they shouldn’t. Due to his efforts they even named a section of the street in his honor. He passed away due to complications from a stroke, but 24 hours before this he was in Memphis going to the dentist and checking on the development center that he loved so dearly. My life was immeasurably influenced by him along with my grandmother, even if I choose not to admit it at times. Because of them I was able to travel beside them to many places in the US & Canada as well as India, England & France. I fondly remember traveling to New Mexico twice a year to visit my great aunt (his half sister) & uncle in the back of a horrible 80’s diesel converted oldsmobile station wagon with wood vinyl down the side. I didn’t know it at the time, but many of those trips and experiences became part of who I was and who I became. They also ran a Christmas tree farm for years (that I reluctantly mowed for countless hours), but only charged what they had in the trees rather than sending them off trying to make large profits in other areas. It was a place that families could come, pick out a tree and cut it down themselves while drinking the provided hot chocolate. It is something that likely won’t be seen again in my lifetime. Countless memories were made during these years, despite my reluctance to realize this at the time. He and my grandmother truly loved people and helping others in a time that it wasn’t popular to do so. Anyone who met my grandfather had strong feelings about him, not to say they were always good. He could be difficult at times, even to the point that he was referred to as an a$$hole more than once (including me, esp in my younger years). Nonetheless after you got to know him you realized while be might be an a$$hole at times, he was a very well intending a$$hole despite what he said. He always put other people first, but sometimes his determination could be perceived the wrong way at first. He never backed down from confrontation to a fault when it was something he was passionate about. He will be missed immensely by more than just his family. The picture included was taken with my twins during my grandmothers (his beloved wife's) memorial. I will post other pictures in the comments.
This of course marks a turning point in my life as well as the life of my sister and many cousins. With the passing of William Byrne, this marks the point that I (we) no longer have grandparents. Before it was ‘another one had passed’. He was the last one, the chapter has been closed. While providing a turning point, it has also provided perspective. He had a laundry list of accomplishments and experiences, but in the end all that mattered was his family and what he had created. He passed very peacefully in his sleep last night under the care of my mother and aunt. He spent his finals days doing what he loved and took the final trip to be with his wife who he has missed immensely since her passing in 2014. They are now together again and his legacy will continue to live on influencing lives into the future. His body is being donated to science, just as his wife, to continue the pursuit of knowledge even after his death. Dr. William Byrne may you ever rest in peace in the loving arms of your wife and tell my children Maxwell & Shelby we love them until we meet all of you again.
Please feel free to post or tag pictures,share stories of William Byrne on this post so others can enjoy and learn more about his life.
