Henry Martyn Paynter of Pittsford, Vermont, formerly of New York and Reading, Massachusetts, an Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, and inventor of the Bond Graph Modeling System died suddenly at his home on Friday, June 14, 2002.

Dr. Paynter was born in Evanston, Illinois and grew up in New York City and its environs. He and his wife raised their six children in Reading, Massachusetts and upon his retirement, moved to Pittsford, Vermont.

Dr. Paynter received a B.S. (1944), M.S. (1949), and Sc.D (1951), all from MIT. He started teaching in the MIT Civil Engineering Department in 1946. Regarded as a creative, charismatic, and passionate teacher who deeply influenced the careers of his students, he urged them to think "big" and "deep" about engineering and science. To initiate the first Systems Engineering subjects at MIT, Dr. Paynter transferred in 1954 to the Department of Mechanical Engineering on a half-time basis until 1959 and then full-time until his retirement in 1985.

One of the world's leading experts in analog computing, his close association with George Philbrick (credited along with Lovell as the developer of the operational amplifier) and his earliest research lead to the formation of the Pi-Square Engineering Company. This company applied fast electronic analog computing to industrial process control.

Besides pioneering contributions to hybrid computing, today he is best known for his academic research and course work that culminated in the creation of Bond Graphing.

Dr. Paynter was a Sigma Xi National Lecturer, ASME Distinguished Lecturer, campus visitor, world traveler, and his honors included the Alfred Noble Prize of the Joint Engineering Societies (1953), the ASME Oldenburger Medal (1979), and the ACC Education Award (1984).

A member of the National Academy of Engineering, he was also a Life Fellow of ASME, a Life Member of ASCE, and a Life Senior Member of IEEE.

Until his time of death, Dr. Paynter was a prolific publisher of his works and collaborated widely with colleagues. In addition, he enthusiastically pursued local causes including environmental, forestry, and land preservation.

He leaves his wife, Gayllis A. (Beasley); a sister, Jane Solit of Deposit, New York; a daughter, Emily of Durham, North Carolina; a son Bruce W. of Newark, New Jersey; a son Kenneth D. of Israel; a daughter Martha of Natick, Massachusetts; and a son Neil F. of Hancock, Michigan.; 13 grandchildren and one great-grand child.

A memorial service was held Saturday, June 22 in Pittsford, Vermont. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to: MIT Henry Paynter Memorial Fund, Recording Sec'y, MIT Office of the Treasurer, 238 Main St., Suite 200, Cambridge, MA 02142-1012. Or made to: The Pittsford Historical Society, Inc., PO Box 423, Pittsford, VT 05763.

Written by Martha Paynter and Jose Juarez