Computer network engineer Daniel C. Lynch, known for his contributions to the commercialization of the internet, passed away at the age of 82. His daughter confirmed his death due to kidney failure.

During the mid-1980s, when the internet was primarily used by academia and the government, Lynch, a computer facility manager, foresaw its commercial potential. Inspired by friends who had founded companies like Cisco Systems and Sun Microsystems, Lynch decided to establish a workshop to educate vendors and developers on configuring equipment for routing internet traffic.

The first event, attended by 300 vendors, aimed to showcase the internet’s potential for businesses by demonstrating the interoperability of different manufacturers’ equipment. Lynch’s efforts in organizing the workshop played a significant role in paving the way for the commercialization of the internet.