Kenneth Francis Byrnes died Tuesday, January 24, 2023, with his wife, Joanne Blasko Hickey Byrnes, at his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Edith Shinick Byrnes, his wife of 47 years Johanna Bolcarovic Byrnes, his sister, Anne Concannon and his step-son Charles Hickey (Jenny). He is survived by his wife of 20 years, the aforementioned Joanne Byrnes, his brother Robert Byrnes (Helen) his brother-in-law Tom Concannon, sons Kenneth Byrnes (Tammy) and Thomas Byrnes, daughters Jeanne Funk (Larry) and Kathryn Byrnes, step-daughter Carol Hickey, seven grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Ken was born in Brooklyn on February 3, 1930. He attended parochial elementary school, won an academic scholarship to St. John Preparatory School and graduated from St. John’s University Magna cum laude, all in Brooklyn. Ken lived the majority of his adult life in East and South Brunswick, New Jersey & Kingston and Hershey, Pennsylvania, before moving to Melbourne, Florida.

Ken’s career, though starting in a research laboratory, was primarily involved with manufacturing. He got his training as a middle manager at Johnson & Johnson. He subsequently held positions of Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at Topps Chewing Gum, producers of the famous baseball cards and subsequently President of Daniel Radiator, a subsidiary of Handy and Harman. Ken was a prolific though unpublished songwriter. During his brief residence in New York City, he was a very active member of the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA). Following retirement Ken became active in several writing groups. His memoirs have been assembled in the book entitled ”Interesting Moments from an Ordinary Life”. Ken’s writing groups led him into playwriting. Eventually, he wrote over a dozen one-act plays which were produced in Central Pennsylvania and after he moved to Florida, in Cocoa Beach as a member of the Playwrights Workshop. In 2013 he won the Bencich Award for the best one-act play of the year. His only full-length  play, “Priceless”, won the 2015 Surfside Theater competition and was staged that June. Ken’s playwright experience led him to acting where he was cast in significant roles in Bus Stop and Fiddler on the Roof plus film roles. Ken lived a full and active life and passed away with the knowledge that he was loved dearly by family and friends.

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