Daniel Pavlik (1971)

Does anybody know anything about Byron? He was my best friend in college but I have not seen him since he came down from San Francisco to visit me in 1975. He certainly was very much liked by many of the students I know from that time. Somebody might know something. He did help "civilize" me as he came from a more cultivated Great Britain upbringing. Wow. I thought he was still with us. 

Francis Penkava (1971)

I found this online obituary from 2000:

Byron Smythe
Published 6/3/2000
Magalia resident Byron Meredith Smythe, listed in Microsoft Magazine as a mover and a shaker of people in high technology died Tuesday at his home after a lengthy battle with cancer. 
A member of the Who’s Who Registry of Global Business Leaders, he was 46. 
Born in Plymouth, England, to Maxene and James Smythe, he was raised in Kent, England, and he attended Ambassador College — an American college — in Bricket Wood, England, where he won a scholarship to attend their campus in Pasadena in 1972. 
He earned an associate’s degree in electronic engineering in 1982 and a bachelor’s in computer systems engineering in 1992. 
He married his wife, Renee M., in 1973. 
Mr. Smythe traveled the world giving magazine interviews, introducing new products and giving seminars on electronic technology in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Europe and the U.S. He spoke French, German, Irish and English. 
He was a resident of Union City before moving to Magalia four years ago. 
Mr. Smythe enjoyed playing the guitar, flower gardening, amateur photography and was an avid reader. He had written a novel and published a book of poetry in England. 
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Brendan of Magalia; daughters, Serena Smythe-Ecton of Burlingame, and Robyn Smythe of Magalia; mother, Maxene of Northern Ireland; brother, Peter of Beverly, England; sisters, Kerina Clarke of Omagh, Northern Ireland, and Mandy McLister of Ballymena, Northern Ireland; four grandchildren; and three nieces and nephews. 
Memorial contributions can be made to the National Brain Tumor Foundation or to the Paradise Hospice in care of Sorensen’s Affordable Mort-uary of Chico, which is handling the arrangements. 
A celebration of life for Mr. Smythe will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at the mortuary.
Mr. Smythe’s remains will be scattered at sea.

Daniel Pavlik (1971)

Thank you Francis for your update about Byron's passing which included in rich detail his life and accomplishments. Byron was beyond just a good friend to me. He went out of his way to push me to do my best, shared his more cultivated background in a way to help me open up to a more expansive view of life and its' rich possibilities and when he married Renee Diaz they both shared their home with me and invited me to join them countless times doing many things. After my senior year at Ambassador I spent my he summer working in Kodiak Alaska for Denise Devilie's father making king crab traps but when I left Alaska to go back to California I stayed with Byron and Renee in the San Francisco area with the intention of starting a business together with Byron and live in his area. Then I left to visit Pasadena and discovered that I wanted to remain in Southern California to build my own business there and remain close to my many other friends like Francis Penkava, Dave and Bart Stegman, Russel Gmirkin and several others. Byron came down to visit me in Pasadena to see if that was really what I wanted to do. I coincidentally was out and about when he visited and we did not get to completely talk through things and he left without saying goodbye. I felt very badly about that and had wanted to make amends for that to him over the years but never looked him up to do so. This life is finite and I feel badly that I never did do that while I had the chance. I am very happy to know that he made the best with his very notable talents and with his rich enthusiasm for life that is still a gift to me as well. Byron and I always talked and pushed each other creatively and I am happy to now know that his fine energy gave him a great carear. I wish the very best to Renee and their children and grandchildren. 

Barbara Patton (Unger) (1971)

Remember Sabbath Notes?

It was around 1974 and I was concerned about having enough money to finish my last year of college.  I didn’t really know Byron Smythe, a Bricket Wood transfer student, as he was more like a new acquaintance than a friend.  However, one Saturday morning before brunch I received this Sabbath Note in my mailbox.  Yes, it meant so much to me at the time that it went into my scrap book, and I still have it.

“Barb,

I was really sorry hear you are having trouble of this sort. I thought that maybe something that helped me could give you a lift too.  I was down and felt hopeless until I thought of how I came to college in the first place.  I know God had a reason for bringing me and He does for you too.  He owns the whole universe and could surely give us $ anytime!  So money isn’t the real issue – He doesn’t need it—it’s just a test to bring us closer to Him, aware of our need for Him.

We all want you to stay Barb, but a year off could be good experience and remember Rom. 8/28 whatever comes.

In love,
Byron”

So whatever people think about the content of his message, his beautiful soul and kindness shows through.  It did work out for me and I graduated in 1975.  Thanks for the encouragement Byron. 

I heard that he had passed years ago but didn’t know the details until someone posted on the In Memory site here.