Barrett Byrnes, air traffic controller

As an air traffic controller at one of the busiest airports in the world, Barrett Byrnes spent much of his career guiding tens of thousands of planes to safe landings or takeoffs into the skies above Kennedy Airport.

He also lobbied for better working conditions for his fellow air traffic controllers and testified many times in Washington on aviation safety.

"He always had a love of air traffic," said his wife, Jacqueline Taylor, 51. "He just really enjoyed the job."

Byrnes died of liver cancer Wednesday at his Setauket home. He was 59.

He grew up in Huntington and graduated from Harborfields High School in Greenlawn in 1971. He learned to love airports early, as his father, Ralph Byrnes, was one of the first air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport in Queens.

Byrnes went on to Farmingdale State College, where he pitched for the baseball team. In 1972, his earned run average of 0.36 was fifth best in the nation and still stands as a school record.

After graduating, he trained to be an air traffic controller, starting out at the Dutchess County Airport in upstate Wappingers Falls in 1982.

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For the final 14 years of his career until he retired in 2008, Byrnes was a certified professional controller at JFK Tower.

He also served as union leader and safety advocate for the industry. Byrnes was a charter member of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and served as the local JFK Tower chapter's president/facility representative, and as air safety investigator to the National Transportation Safety Board.

His personal life was filled with activity as well. He enjoyed sailing and travel, as well as the outdoors and gardening, Taylor said. His love for the Yankees was only exceeded by his adoration for his two rescue dogs, German shepherds named Zack and Guinness.

Four years ago he and Taylor met through a mutual friend, developer John Tsunis. Originally, they'd planned a large wedding to be held in June, but after Byrnes received his cancer diagnosis in April the plans changed. Instead they got married May 21 at Tsunis' home in Poquott. "We were married exactly seven months," Taylor said.

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Byrnes' wake will be at the Bryant Funeral Home in Setauket on Monday from 7 to 10 p.m. and Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. His funeral is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Setauket, with burial to follow at the church cemetery.

In addition to his wife, Byrnes is survived by stepdaughters Caitlin and Deirdre of Setauket; and sisters Kathye Rodda of St. James, Jeanne Cave of Dix Hills and Aileene Szokoli of Greenlawn.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Shore Animal League.