CEO and co-founder of Natural Advantage, Brian Byrne, Ph.D., passed away on October 11, 2024. Below is an obituary shared by RUSH Funeral Home:
As CEO and co-founder of Natural Advantage, Brian was a paragon of humility and could be found anywhere from cleaning out the septic system to developing entirely new molecules.courtesy
"Dr. Byrne, 78, of Oakdale, entered eternal rest on Friday, October 11, 2024, at Sage Oak of Lake Charles.
Dr. Brian Byrne was born on June 8, 1946, in Yonkers, New York. He was the son of the late William F. and Catherine C. (Connelly) Byrne.
Brian graduated high school from Charles Gorton High in 1964. He attended New York State University at Oneonta, where he achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He furthered his education at Rutgers University, earning a PhD in Organic Chemistry in 1972, where he also served as a Professor of Organic Chemistry.
Dr. Byrne began his illustrious career in the Flavor Industry at Hercules Inc, PFW, where he ended up the R&D Manager. In 1988, he moved over to International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) where he served as Director of Natural Product Development, and was awarded Man of the Year in 1990 for his leadership and innovations in natural flavors.
Later in his career, Brian saw opportunities in the flavor industry for a company that could quickly respond to customer needs and demands for new materials. In 1998, he formed Natural Advantage with Carol Callahan.
As CEO & Co-Founder of Natural Advantage, Brian was a paragon of humility and could be found anywhere from cleaning out the septic system to developing entirely new molecules. He was always working on something. One phrase that he never uttered was “That’s Not My Job”. When asked what his job was and he quickly replied, “what needs doing”. Brian mentored many young chemists. His approach was to allow the young chemist to make mistakes and then have them fix the mistakes. Brian’s leadership philosophy was: The most can be learned when things don’t go right, and you need to figure out how to fix your mess.
It didn’t matter if you were a Ph.D. Chemist, technician, or new hire, his approach was: Figure out the problem and fix it, even if it takes several tries. One of his mottos was, “Never give up! Never surrender!” Brian’s patience with challenges and mistakes was amazing. He would say, “Just try again”, and ask, “What did you learn from this round of not getting the desired result?” Patience and time spent mentoring “The Next Generations” leaves a legacy of well-trained “Problem Solvers” attacking the world’s problems in a variety of fields.
As long as we hold onto the innovative techniques, meticulous processes, and razor-sharp problem-solving skills that Brian personified, he will forever remain a part of our lives. By passing these ideals on to the next generation of scientists, we ensure that his legacy endures and inspires the minds of the future.
To some, Brian was a devoted father, to others, a loving husband, and to the rest of us a treasured friend. He leaves behind a large group of family and friends to cherish the memories we have of him. A steadfast follower of Jesus Christ, Brian also embodied the Confucian Ideal of the Merciful Father, passionately championing the maxim “God is Love!”
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Catherine Byrnes; one brother, William “Billy” Byrne; and one sister, Catherine Byrne Zweben.
Those left to cherish his memory and mourn his loss include his loving wife, Carol Callahan Byrne; one son, Luke Byrne (Jinghui Zhang); two daughters, Ingrid Byrne McAuliffe and Brianne Byrne-Hann (Tim); two brothers, Jim Byrne (Kristine) and Christopher Byrne (Maureen); and one sister, Mary Elizabeth Batich (Christoper).
“Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.” - Yoda
Friends may post online messages of condolence for the Byrne family by visiting www.rushfh.com'."
