Living Hero: Bruce Pym

[Jan Eveleth]

My jobs have always required that I be familiar with a broad range of topics ranging from technical infrastructure to business protocols and procedures. In the early 90s, the new challenge at hand was to decipher, write, and negotiate Internet services contracts. While not as difficult as insurance policies, they were dense and had their own quirky nuances especially since the Internet was at this time just starting to emerge beyond the science & research communities. It was during this time that I had the great fortune to work with Bruce Pym, an attorney hired by our organization. Bruce was a well-rounded, thoughtful, intelligent, practical, no-nonsense, experienced attorney.

Bruce and I had many opportunities to work together. During these years, I would ask so many questions and sometimes asked the same question multiple times. Bruce always patiently answered. He became a true mentor. Bruce not only helped me with the specific question at hand, but he had a gracious way of helping me to see beyond the details to the broader picture. Bruce imparted more than just information and mechanics related to the contracts, he also taught me how to approach problems from multiple perspectives and how to weigh the pros and cons of the various approaches.

A kind and wonderful man to whom I will always be indebted.