James J. Byrnes

James J. Byrnes passed away peacefully on February 18, 2015 at the age of 92. James (or "Jim" as he was known) was born in 1922, the son of Irish immigrants in New York City. As a child, the American Museum of Natural History and Central Park were his playgrounds. He graduated from Columbia University in 1943, with a degree in Chemical Engineering, and worked for the Manhattan Project during World War II. Jim spent three years in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, working on the Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and other projects for the development of the Atomic bomb. He then took a job at Brookhaven National Laboratories, where he met his future bride, Joan, and they married in 1951. Jim also worked for Burns and Roe Enterprises as project manager for several nuclear and fossil fuel power plants, and ultimately ended his career there as a Vice President. Jim always said that he was "lucky" in both work and in love, and liked nothing better than the opportunity to solve a problem, or fix something. After retiring to St. Petersburg, he volunteered at the Christmas Toy Shop, where he enjoyed fixing bicycles for the next 20 years, which were given as gifts to young children on Christmas. Jim and Joan happily celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this year, and they have been blessed with three daughters, Maureen, Eileen, and Colleen, who all work in the healing arts. They are also blessed with wonderful relatives by marriage; their son-in-law, Stephen, and daughter-in-law, Darcy; and are very proud of their grandsons, Matthew (and his wife Theresa), and James. Jim was best known for his keen intelligence and wickedly dry sense of humor, which was enjoyed by family, coworkers, and friends alike. He is loved and will be missed. A Celebration of Jim's Life will be planned for the springtime. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either Suncoast Hospice at www.thehospice.org or The Christmas Toy Shop at www.christmastoyshop.org.