Remembering Gerard Gus Gaynor: IEEE Life Fellow and 3M Director

Gerard “Gus” Gaynor, a distinguished engineer and long-serving volunteer with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), died on March 9, 2026, at the age of 104. An IEEE Life Fellow, Gaynor’s career spanned several decades of industrial innovation and professional leadership, particularly within the realms of technology management and engineering direction.

Gaynor’s influence on the engineering community extended well into his centenarian years. In 2025, while aged 103, he coauthored two articles focusing on professional development: one regarding the use of relationships to drive career growth and another analyzing the trade-offs between pursuing technical and managerial career paths.

Professional Career and Contributions at 3M

Gaynor’s academic foundation began at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering in 1950. Before his tenure at 3M, he held positions at Johnson Farebox (now Genfare) and Automatic Electric, which later became part of Nokia.

He joined 3M in 1962, beginning a 25-year career that saw him occupy several critical leadership roles. His contributions to the company included:

• Serving as the chief engineer for a division located in Italy.
• Establishing the company’s innovation department.
• Leading the design and installation of the first computerized manufacturing facilities at 3M.

Gaynor retired from 3M in 1987, holding the position of director of engineering.

IEEE Leadership and Volunteerism

Gaynor’s relationship with the professional engineering community predates the formal establishment of the IEEE. He first joined the Institute of Radio Engineers, a predecessor society, as a student member in 1942. He transitioned into an active IEEE volunteer role twenty years later.

Over a period of 64 years as a volunteer, Gaynor held numerous high-level positions. He served as the president of the IEEE Engineering Management Society—now known as the Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEMS)—and was the first president of the Technology Management Council.

His administrative and editorial contributions included serving on the Publications Services and Products Board and the finance committee of the IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB). He also served as the founding editor of Today’s Engineer, the online magazine for IEEE-USA that reported on government legislation and professional issues affecting members in the United States. This publication later evolved into the e-newsletter known as IEEE-USA InSight.

Even after reaching the age of 100, Gaynor remained active in the field. He led the launch of TEMS Leadership Briefs, an open-access, short-format publication designed specifically for technology leaders. He also served two terms as the vice president of publications for the TEMS executive committee following the society’s formation in 2015.

Honors and Recognition

Throughout his career, Gaynor received multiple accolades for his contributions to technology management and professional service. He was honored with the IEEE TEMS Career Achievement Award and the IEEE EMS Engineering Manager of the Year Award.

He also received the IEEE-USA McClure Citation of Honor. In 2014, Gaynor was inducted into the IEEE Technical Activities Board Hall of Honor.

Beyond his professional achievements, Gaynor was a published author of several books on technology management through IEEE-USA. He is survived by seven children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.