104-Year-Old Engineer Published Career Advice at 103

At 103 years old, Gerard "Gus" Gaynor was still writing career advice articles for engineers and driving himself to lunch meetings in snowy Minneapolis.

The IEEE Life Fellow, who passed away on March 9 at 104, spent 64 years volunteering with the engineering organization. His involvement actually predates IEEE itself—he joined the Institute of Radio Engineers, a predecessor society, as a student in 1942.

But Gus didn't slow down with age. In 2022, at 100 years old, he led the launch of TEMS Leadership Briefs, a new publication designed to help technology leaders navigate their careers.

His professional journey started with fixing farm equipment before earning an electrical engineering degree from the University of Michigan in 1950. He spent 25 successful years at 3M, where he established the company's innovation department and designed its first computerized manufacturing facilities.

After retiring as director of engineering in 1987, most people would have settled into a quiet life. Gus chose a different path.

The Ripple Effect

Gus became a powerhouse volunteer, serving as president of what's now the Technology and Engineering Management Society and founding editor of an online magazine for engineers. He authored several books on technology management and mentored countless professionals through his writing.

His 2023 articles covered leveraging relationships for career growth and choosing between technical and managerial paths. These weren't recycled wisdom from decades past—they were fresh perspectives informed by more than a century of lived experience.

IEEE colleague Tariq Samad remembers meeting Gus in 2009 when he was "87 years young." During their six-hour flight from San Juan to Minneapolis, Samad was so impressed he told friends about this remarkable person for weeks afterward.

Last year, former TEMS president Michael Condry organized a Zoom call to celebrate Gus's 104th birthday. Colleagues from around the world joined to honor him.

Gus appeared on screen with his characteristic optimism: "I'm good. Everything's well. I can't complain."

Throughout his volunteer career, he received multiple honors including the IEEE-USA McClure Citation of Honor and induction into the IEEE Technical Activities Board Hall of Honor in 2014. But his real legacy lives in the thousands of engineers he mentored through his writing and leadership.

Gus proved that meaningful contribution doesn't have an expiration date.