Brian Lyons: Finally resting.

I’ve just come home from a week away. I’m only now getting to sorting much of my email. When I’m on travel, especially to certain locations/for certain events, I tend to only invest email time on critical client and personal matters. Most of my email lists go to the back burner and it’s only through one of my lists that I learned of the tragic passing of a Great man.

When I first met Brian Lyons (1965-2007) one of my first thoughts was, "… does this man ever sleep?!"

We were both attending an APLN-DC meeting where I was speaking. Brian was there and sat next to a clearly junior software developer. The depth and insight of his questions were of the sort I’d expect from a well-informed, broadly experienced technical leader. Brian was all of that. Only, he was also the top NumberSixer at NumberSix Software. In other words, here was a guy who could get down and dirty and up to his elbows into technology, methods and processes, but he wasn’t a "worker-bee" he was the boss, and owner of the company.

The company is doing swimmingly well and has been for some time. Most people in his position would have unplugged from the technical side years ago. But, that wasn’t like Brian. In fact, that’s likely why NumberSix is as successful and has become a unique business in an otherwise crowded market.

Much to my surprise, Brian became a quick fan of mine as evinced by his kind words in the company blog; then continued peppering of information relevant to what I do, and often to me in particular. We quickly became very comfortable with one another. At Agile 2007 he had no trouble making fun of me for not being an actual conference attendee. My most recent communication with Brian was just three days before his passing when he bothered himself to let me know that a speaker he was listening to mentioned me by name and URL and even sent me the presentation.

He didn’t have to do that. Well, he didn’t have to do that if he was anyone other than Brian Lyons. Any other busy, successful, distracted business owner would likely have left me to find out through usual means about this reference and this other person’s work. But again, would any other busy, successful, distracted business owner be bothering himself to sit for a presentation on Agile Modeling?

So I get back to my original thought: I make myself feel more adequate by concluding that the only way a person in Brian’s position could be as plugged-in, as connected, as thorough, and as conscientious as he… is if he never slept. Until now.

Rest in Peace, Brian. An entire industry will feel your loss. May G-d take pity on your family and home and may your name be for a blessing.