Tribute: Paul Reynolds
Well known and respected internet commentator and developer Paul Reynolds passed away suddenly on Sunday May 23, from leukaemia. Tributes have been flowing online, add yours on the comment box below.
Paul Reynolds was the joint Managing Director of McGovern Online, one of New Zealand’s oldest web companies.
They developed a strong footprint in the arts, heritage and cultural sector – especially with art galleries, museums, and libraries and also worked with a number of New Zealand publishers and the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival.
He consulted on digital strategic planning to a number of other cultural and heritage organisations and institutions in New Zealand and Australia.
As his bio states on McGovern Online he had a reputation for making the complex intuitive and the aspirational instrumental and strongly believed “it is our responsibility to invent the future”.
His work demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of the internet and of the broader issues in a social, economic, political and technological context. He put a strong emphasis on community access and contribution to knowledge.
He was a participant in a number of NZ Government advisory bodies, Adjunct Director (Digital Library) to the National Library of New Zealand and a member of the NZ National Digital Forum. He was also a former Board member of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
In August, 2005, he was appointed to the New Zealand Government Digital Strategy Advisory Group. He was also an invited member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Science, and a Webby Awards judge.
In September 2003 he was appointed as a LIAC Commissioner to advise and report to the Minister Responsible for the National Library. Having served three years as a Commissioner, Paul was reappointed for a further period of two years from September 2006 to September 2008.
He was also a commentator on Radio New Zealand and was involved in Creative Commons in New Zealand.
Tributes have been flowing via websites and social networks.
Public Address: He would have understood and approved of the way the sad news spread – via Twitter, Facebook and old-fashioned email.
Sciblogs: Reynolds understood the power of the web
Graham Beattie: Paul was an enormous supporter of public libraries and literary festivals and created many of their websites.
InternetNZ: Paul spent many years enlightening listeners of Radio New Zealand to the wonders and potential of technology, and never failed to make the most complex things sound simple.
Librarians Matter: "Our tools are in front of our ideas and our bravery" - Paul Reynolds. Slides from 'Living, Learning, Researching in the Cloud .:
Add your tribute on the comment box below.
Comments
24 May 2010 - 15:17 PM
Like many who knew and loved Paul, I'm shocked by his untimely death. Paul was a stalwart supporter of The Big Idea project and over the years, he challenged and inspired TBI's creative team to deliver the online hub that we all believed the creative community was due. While Paul's feedback was always spot-on even when he was being tough, his ideas were always delivered generously and from the heart. We will remember him for a long time to come and already miss him deeply.
Farewell dear friend; haere haere haere . . .
Elisabeth Vaneveld
I am still asking myself how is this possible / Paul gone ?.... but I can still hear his voice.... rich distinctive resonant....... and that sharp
insightful analysis...... was it only the other day at the
Readers & Writers Festival ?.......
Thank you Paul Reynolds for your years of service to the creative,cultural and heritage sectors...You will be long remembered for your passion and commitment to sharing the wonderful world of digital space with all of us...
'Greater than the tread of mighty armies
is an idea whose time has come' Victor Hugo
May you Rest in Peace Man of many Ideas
Fare thee well
Sandi Morrison
I got back from the Sydney Writers' Festival yesterday in a very mellow mood, which descended into disbelief and despair when I heard about Paul's death. I still don't believe it, and I ache for Helen and their family. I met Paul about 15 years ago when I was working at Macmillan Publishers and he was reviewing books. We got on - I loved talking to Paul, about anything really. Some years later, I was at a British Council function and I bumped into Paul and Helen. Now at the Auckland Writers' Festival, I was probably fretting about our lack of website presence. Paul immediately said: "we'll do one for you". Paul was one of those rare "can do" people - he had big ideas, an almost child-like joy in solving problems (and sometimes creating new ones), and he was always looking ahead and pushing me too as well. Paul and Helen had a genuine and personal interest in the festival - they both came to events, and reported back to me afterwards and I loved seeing them there. Paul appeared in festival events willingly - and chaired the session "Read any good bytes lately?" for us this year: he positively wanted to be involved. We owe Paul and Helen so much, and we're absolutely devastated by this news. I will miss him terribly - we all will. Our love and thoughts are with Helen and Paul's family, and the staff at McGovern.
25 May 2010 - 19:51 PM
Helen, you probably don't remember meeting at Talk Link two decades ago. Love to you and family.
Philip Patston
Paul,
So very sad to not be able to continue the wonderful conversations I have had with you in the past into the future, and very appreciative of the ones we did get to have.You bought a wonderful flexible intelligence and humanity to the digital conversation.
A big loss to New Zealand,
Jacquie
Paul was influential in shaping my thinking when I was first making IT a career rather than a hobby. I'll miss his level-headed assessments, his passion for the medium.
::Leigh