James F. Byrnes

                                                                             In Loving Memory of James Francis Byrnes

Jim passed away peacefully on February 2, 2021 at the age of 87 at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY from coronavirus related illness.                                                                       

 He was born September 26, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY. He grew up in Woodhaven, NY and attended Brooklyn Technical High School. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Science and Technology from Thomas Edison State University.   

Jim served proudly in the U.S. Navy. Afterwards, he worked for Lockheed Aircraft Service in New York which had been established to meet the service needs of many multi-engine aircraft - including the U.S. Presidential Fleet and the first Air Force One. During this time, he obtained his Civil Pilot’s license. He was selected by the Rockefeller Family to fly in the family’s personal aircraft as both flight engineer and back-up co-pilot. This was the beginning of a long and illustrious career in the aerospace industry. Jim went on to hold executive positions at Grumman Aerospace, Sikorsky Aircraft, Dassault Aviation, and Agusta Aviation, among others. His career required multiple relocations and as a result, his family lived in many locales along the eastern seaboard and as far west as Little Rock, AK. Jim joyfully piloted and worked on his own Cessna for many years. He also enjoyed spending time and working on his boat. Jim was devoted to his family and was a devout Catholic. He read broadly and his intelligence and dry wit made him a great conversationalist. After retirement, he and his wife Madelyn traveled widely and enjoyed wintering in Florida (Vero Beach). 

He is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Madelyn Hegermiller Byrnes, his sister, Margie Dickerson, his children James Byrnes and wife Karen, Kevin Byrnes and wife Mary, Ronald Byrnes and wife Adrianne, Kathleen Byrnes Hill and husband Stephen, and nine grandchildren, Lauren, Kevin Andrew and wife Paige, Alex, Tristan, Pearson, Rowan, Colin, Abigail, and Makenna. His extended family with Madelyn includes Donald Hegermiller and wife Kimberly, David Hegermiller and wife Cheryl, and JoAnn Hegermiller as well as his grandchildren Clare, Donald, Ben and wife Tara, Christie, Robbie and wife Dana, Anna, Gil, Emma and Katie and his great grandson, Ethan.

He was predeceased by his first wife of 41 years, Adrienne L. Byrnes. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jim’s memory to The Wounded Warrior Project.  http://www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate