The engineering community is mourning the loss of Gerard “Gus” Gaynor, a towering figure in professional volunteering and a former executive at 3M, who passed away on March 9 at the age of 104. A recognized IEEE Life Fellow, Gaynor’s life spanned the most transformative era of modern electronics, from the early days of radio to the dawn of the digital age.
Remembering devoted IEEE volunteer Gus Gaynor requires looking beyond the impressive numbers of his longevity to the actual impact he left on the profession. For over six decades, Gaynor didn’t just maintain a membership; he actively shaped how engineers transition from technical roles into leadership, authoring books and articles that served as blueprints for generations of managers.
His commitment to the community remained steadfast well into his second century. Even at 103, Gaynor continued to coauthor professional guidance on leveraging relationships for career growth and the nuanced trade-offs between pursuing a technical track versus a managerial path. His ability to remain intellectually engaged and professionally relevant at an age when most have long since retired serves as a rare benchmark for lifelong learning in the STEM fields.
A Legacy of Professional Service and Leadership
Gaynor’s relationship with the professional engineering community began long before the formal creation of the IEEE. He first entered the fold in 1942 as a student member of the Institute of Radio Engineers, the predecessor society to the current organization. By the 1960s, he had transitioned from a member to a leader, embarking on a 64-year journey of volunteerism that touched nearly every facet of the organization’s administrative and educational arms.
His leadership portfolio was extensive. Gaynor served as the president of the IEEE Engineering Management Society—which evolved into the Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEMS)—and held the distinction of being the first president of the Technology Management Council. He also played a critical role in the IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB), serving on its finance committee and the Publications Services and Products Board.
Beyond administrative roles, Gaynor was a pioneer in professional communications. He served as the founding editor of Today’s Engineer, the online magazine for IEEE-USA that focused on the intersection of government legislation and the careers of U.S.-based engineers. This publication laid the groundwork for what is now the IEEE-USA InSight e-newsletter.
His contributions were recognized through some of the highest honors in the field, including:
- The IEEE EMS Engineering Manager of the Year Award
- The IEEE TEMS Career Achievement Award
- The IEEE-USA McClure Citation of Honor
- Induction into the IEEE Technical Activities Board Hall of Honor in 2014
From the University of Michigan to 3M Executive
The foundation of Gaynor’s career was laid at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he earned his degree in electrical engineering in 1950. His early professional years saw him navigating the post-war industrial landscape, working for companies such as Johnson Farebox (now Genfare) and Automatic Electric (which later became part of Nokia).
In 1962, Gaynor joined 3M, beginning a 25-year tenure that would define his professional legacy. His time at the company was marked by a blend of technical oversight and strategic innovation. He served as the chief engineer for a division in Italy and was instrumental in establishing the company’s innovation department. Perhaps his most lasting internal impact was leading the design and installation of 3M’s first computerized manufacturing facilities, bridging the gap between traditional industrial production and the emerging world of computing.
Gaynor retired from 3M in 1987 as the director of engineering, but his “retirement” was largely nominal. He spent the following decades expanding his influence through the IEEE, continuing to publish and mentor until his final years.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1942 | Joined Institute of Radio Engineers as a student member |
| 1950 | Graduated from University of Michigan (Electrical Engineering) |
| 1962 | Joined 3M Corporation |
| 1987 | Retired as Director of Engineering from 3M |
| 2014 | Inducted into the IEEE TAB Hall of Honor |
| 2023 | Celebrated 104th birthday with IEEE colleagues via Zoom |
The Centenarian Mentor
What distinguished Gus Gaynor in his final years was not simply his age, but his refusal to step away from the vanguard of technology management. At 100 years traditional, he was not merely an emeritus figure; he was an active project leader, spearheading the launch of TEMS Leadership Briefs, a short-format open-access publication designed specifically for modern technology leaders.
His ability to connect across generations was legendary. Whether it was driving himself to lunch in the snowy streets of Minneapolis or collaborating on career-interest articles with current editors, Gaynor remained an upbeat presence. During a Zoom call organized by former TEMS president Michael Condry to celebrate his 104th birthday, Gaynor remained his characteristic self, telling his colleagues: “I’m good. Everything’s well. I can’t complain.”
Gaynor was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Margaret Karrels Gaynor, who passed away in 2018. He is survived by a large family, including seven children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, as well as a global network of colleagues who viewed him as the gold standard for professional devotion.
The engineering community continues to preserve his contributions through the archives of the Technology and Engineering Management Society, where his writings on the technical-versus-managerial career path remain relevant for those navigating the complexities of the modern corporate ladder.
We invite readers to share their memories of Gus Gaynor or their own experiences with lifelong professional volunteering in the comments below.
