By Randi Altman

The industry lost a mainstay last week with the sudden death of AJA’s Bryce Button, but more importantly, the world has lost an incredibly kind human being.

A fun night in Amsterdam

Bryce was unforgettable… that giant smile, that distinctive laugh and his big hugs. Like so many others who have had the pleasure of spending any time at all with Bryce, I considered him a friend. Bryce brought his post production background to AJA 14 years ago, and I think I’ve pointed a camera at him at one trade show or another for each of those years, including at the most recent NAB last month. But we also got to spend some time away from the show floor, sharing a meal or a drink and conversation.

From me and the rest of the postPerspective family, we wish Bryce peace. We will never forget you.

The following is a statement from AJA Video Systems about the death of their beloved friend and long-time employee Bryce Button.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beloved colleague and friend Bryce Button. To know Bryce was to love him, and he made a huge impression on friends, family and colleagues all over the world.

Bryce was one of a kind, that rare breed who was both engineering-minded and an absolute people person. He was beloved by all and relied upon by so many for his deep technical knowledge, ever-present smile, bear hugs and joyful disposition. Whether you met him in a press briefing, over a shared meal or at a cozy bar drinking a Rusty Nail, he was a great listener and storyteller; he made everyone in his orbit feel like a special friend.

At AJA, Bryce managed his team and vendor partners with grace and precision and was a relied-upon point of contact for global sales, marketing and channel partners. He was also a go-to subject matter expert for industry organizations and was called on to identify and opine about top industry trends, the latest broadcast standards and technical considerations in production. He truly was one of the most well-respected professionals walking the halls of IBC and NAB for the past 20-plus years. He knew everybody, and everybody knew him.

He spent 14 years with AJA, with many months on the road, and was dedicated to his job and to the people he worked with. Anyone who knew him also heard about his cherished family in his native homeland of South Africa, adopted home of Colorado, and in Brazil. He had a deep love and admiration for all of them, and our hearts go out to his entire family.