Very Sad News: Industry Consultant Lyle Bunn Has Passed Away

October 13, 2018 by Dave Haynes

Very sad news started filtering in last night and through today. I didn’t want to write anything until it was confirmed, and it unfortunately has been.

Well-known digital signage industry consultant Lyle Bunn has passed away. He died Tuesday, at his home in Brighton, Ontario, of complications from colon cancer. He was just 63.

I’d noticed Lyle had been absent from trade shows and conferences in the past year, but had vaguely understood he had elderly parents who needed his care. Clearly, though, he had his own serious health issue, which based on some emails today he seemed to be on top of, even this summer.

From the early days of the signage industry, Lyle was omnipresent at just about any industry events in North America. If he wasn’t speaking at these events, he was in the audience and among the first to ask questions.

He had a remarkable knack for keeping his name in the conversation and consideration list when it came to his consulting work, which by all reports he did well, and did well from. If there was an industry event, you would almost certainly see Lyle working the room and hallways.

He was also a voracious student of the industry – always learning and always sharing. He put out countless white papers and either ran or was part of many, many webinars.

A couple of years ago Lyle put out a statement saying he was stepping back from consulting and focusing on education, with something called the Center for Digital Experience. I’m not sure if it was very active, or if his health issues slowed those plans.

I think I last saw Lyle at the Air Canada departure gate in Las Vegas, heading, like me, back to our socialist paradise after DSE 2017. The Toronto-bound plane was late and overbooked, and the lounge was cramped and full of cranky people, like me, and, remarkably, Lyle. He even used a curse word, which just about floored me.

The enduring memory I have of Lyle Bunn is a ridiculously nice, kind man who rarely said an unkind thing. In a weird way, it was kind of nice to hear him use some salty language about Air Canada Rouge (well-earned). Normally all suit and tie, polished and practiced, he let his perfect hair down a little.

This is from I don’t know where or when – some mixer, somewhere – of me and Lyle.  :-]

Lyle will be very much missed by the digital signage community. He loved it. Believed in it. And his enthusiasm and knowledge undoubtedly converted a lot of end-users from skeptics to adopters, and those jobs probably made the year for some companies and kept some people employed. He was among the industry’s biggest cheerleaders and evangelists.

He’ll also be missed by family. Not a lot of people know this, but Lyle wrote a 2015 book – XOXO From Dad – as an expression of love to his daughter, who based on the synopsis is in her 20s now. Like I said – ridiculously nice man. I hope that young woman was by his side Tuesday.

If you live in or north of Toronto, the service is at:

Brighton Fellowship Christian Reformed Church

Brighton, ON
Saturday, October 20, 2018
1:00 p.m.

And if you’ve put it off (not saying Lyle did, but …) GET A COLONOSCOPY!!!

Way too young. Not fair.

  1. steve Goertz says:

    Very sad news. A fine gentleman was Mr. Bunn.

  2. Michael Tutton says:

    Well said Dave.
    Lyle was always generous with his time and thoughts.

  3. Carre’ Bistline says:

    So sorry to hear of this tragic news! Very well written description of Lyle and his amazing efforts in our digital signage space. My thoughts and prayers to his family.

  4. Lawrence dvorchik says:

    I am deeply saddened to hear this. I met Lyle almost 20 years ago and he continued to be one of my advisors, mentors and friends for many years. A genuinely nice man, he always wanted to help others. We should all lucky to have gotten to know him. Today just got a little worse.

    We’ll miss you Lyle, more than you probably would ever know. Rest In Peace my friend.

  5. Manny Sahu says:

    Sad news indeed… I had the opportunity to meet Lyle few times at different digital signage event. He was genuinely interested in people and their work. Very low key with always a smile on his face.

    Rest In Peace.

  6. Wes Dixon says:

    How sad. Lyle was indeed a ridiculously nice man. I only met him a couple of times, but I liked him and he knew his stuff. The industry could use more like him.

  7. Jill Miller says:

    So sad to hear. It was always a highlight to see Lyle at industry events. He made you feel like you were just the person he was looking for… Prayers to his family for their loss.

  8. Steve Hargis says:

    I’ll not soon forget when Lyle showed up in a seminar I taught at DSE. About 10 minutes in he raised his hand for a question. (questions were supposed to be at the end). My mind raced as he tried to get my attention which threw off my prepared notes, and all I could think was, “Wow, Lyle Bunn is in my seminar in the front row.”

    I think I was able to deflect him until the end where Q and A took place, but I was flattered for a month that he was there.

    Go rest high on that mountain.

  9. Mark Mantha says:

    Amazing in talking to people on the weekend re Lyle’s passing how so many commented “Lyle was larger than life”. We could all learn from him and the way he conducted himself as a human being – kind and caring and giving. Many of us have lost a dear friend, a colleague, and industry kingpin. He wanted no one to know of his illness from the spring as the spotlight was never his goal. Still so hard to comprehend.

  10. Lyle was an industry beacon for many of us shinning a light on the path forward. With his knowledge, his insights and his “how can I help” friendliness he helped set both the strength of the industry as well as its culture. I am proud to have been his industry colleague and his friend. As he reaches the pearly gates, he is sure to have a big apple-cheek smile, give a hardy heart-filled handshake … and simultaneously ask a question while also volunteering to help in a way that only Lyle could do. We will miss him.

  11. I was lucky enough to work with him on a number of projects and he was always warm, enthusiastic and supportive. He called me “exceptionally bright” once and it still is a warm memory. Alway curious…and that energy made others in the digital signage space better and more involved. He will be sorely missed…and sincere condolences to his family. RIP Lyle…

  12. Thank you, Dave for a fitting tribute to a great gentleman who I first met at a Toronto digital signage event in 2005. He was a great collaborator, connector and champion of the industry and will be sadly missed.

  13. Bill Petrie says:

    I was with Lyle throughout his illness. He remained positive, generous, gregarious and giving. He refused to complain or feel sorry for himself. Pray for his wonderful wife Darlene. Even near the end, when he was obviously in pain, he kept his sense of humor and was a perfect gentlemen. He was a Christian of great faith and was confident in Heaven. He loved his life at his beautiful home on Brighton Bay with Darlene and his family and many friends. He lived a great life and contributed so much.

  14. Rebecca Walt says:

    So very sad. Lyle was an incredibly kind and generous man and a pioneer in our industry. I will miss his gigantic personality. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

  15. Darlene Bunn says:

    Your kind expression of love for Lyle is heartening. You were a blessing to Lyle as Lyle was to many. Thank you for your beautiful thoughts. God bless you. Darlene Bunn

  16. Don Berg says:

    I was devastated when I heard the news yesterday morning. Lyle was an inspiration – the stories he told always left me feeling better about being part of this crazy industry. His smile and warmth will be missed, but his impact on us will carry on.

  17. When DigitalSignageToday broke in to the digital signage industry, Lyle was one of our first contacts. From our first meeting, through all interactions, Lyle was a gentleman, a person of complete integrity, compassion, sincerity, and he was always enjoyable…lots of fun.
    Thanks to Lyle for all he was and represented, and our deep respect to all his family and friends.
    Bob Fincher

  18. David Spence says:

    I met Lyle on my first day at BTV+ in 2005. I entered the boardroom and he lunged over the top of the table and pumped my hand several times. “We’re going to have a lot of fun” he said, then literally bounded out of the room. I remember thinking “Who WAS that”?

    We did end up having a lot of fun. Lyle became a mentor and a friend, as well as an outstanding road trip partner. We bought bolo ties on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, vowing to wear them back in Toronto. We never did.

    I will miss Lyle very much. He never started a business conversation without first asking sincerely about family and sailing updates.

    Darlene – my condolences to you, and an apology for not keeping in better contact these past few years.

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