Norman Thomas Byrnes (December 15, 1922 – July 9, 2009) was a 20th-century American attorney and public citizen of Boston, Massachusetts. Byrnes was born in

Waterville, New York Waterville (called ''Ska-na-wis'', "''long swamp''" by the Haudenosaunee) is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. According to the 2010 census, its population was 1,583. History Long the traditional territory of the Iroquoian-s ...

on December 15, 1922. He was one of 12 children (one of his siblings being professor and author Robert Byrnes) and grew up in relative poverty. He was graduated from

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...

then fought in Western and Central Europe in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, where he earned a

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

and a

battlefield commission A battlefield promotion (or field promotion) is an advancement in military rank that occurs while deployed in combat. A standard field promotion is advancement from current rank to the next higher rank; a "jump-step" promotion allows the recipient ...

as an officer. He was graduated from

Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. Each class ...

in 1948 after which he was a prominent real estate attorney for 53 years. In 1981–1982 Byrnes was president of the Massachusetts Conveyancers Association (now called the Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts) and received that organization's Richard B. Johnson Award in 1986. He was also president of Boston's Abstract Club and a founding member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He helped develop

air rights Air rights are the property interest in the "space" above the earth's surface. Generally speaking, owning, or renting, land or a building includes the right to use and build in the space above the land without interference by others. This legal ...

for the construction of the

Prudential Center Prudential Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the central business district of Newark, New Jersey. Opened in 2007, it is the home of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the men's basketball program of Seton Hal ...

, and played a major role in the development of the Federal Reserve Bank Building in Boston (he also served as Senior Vice President of the

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, commonly known as the Boston Fed, is responsible for the First District of the Federal Reserve, which covers New England: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and all of Connecticut except ...

from 1971 to 1973). In 1977, Byrnes was a founder of the

Boston Natural Areas Network The Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN), founded in 1977 is a non-profit organization based in Boston, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, which works to identify and protect significant natural areas described as urban wilds and greenways in t ...

(then called the Boston Natural Areas Fund), a

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

dedicated to preservation of

urban wild An urban wild is a remnant of a natural ecosystem found in the midst of an otherwise highly developed urban area. Utility Urban wilds, particularly those of several acres or more, are often intact ecological systems that can provide essential e ...

s in the Boston area. He also served as president of the organization. He was president of Massachusetts

Half-Way House A halfway house is an institute for people with criminal backgrounds or substance use disorder problems to learn (or relearn) the necessary skills to re-integrate into society and better support and care for themselves. As well as serving as a ...

s, a

charity Charity may refer to: Giving * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing * Ch ...

providing social integration assistance to released prisoners.

Personal life

Byrnes was an expert

contract bridge Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. In its basic format, it is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. Millions o ...

player and Bronze Life Master, and was president of the New England Bridge Conference. He was married twice and had three children and three stepchildren. Byrnes died on July 9, 2009 in

Clearwater, Florida Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, northwest of Tampa and St. Petersburg. To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2020 census, the city had a populat ...

Publications

• • • Byrnes, Norman (principle drafter) – Massachusetts Acts of 1961 Enacted a
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 184 Sections 26–30

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrnes, Norman 1922 births 2009 deaths 20th-century American lawyers Lawyers from Boston Real property lawyers Harvard Law School alumni United States Army personnel of World War II United States Army officers American contract bridge players