Cypress Integration CEO Paul Ahern passes away

LAPEER, Mich.—Cypress Integration Solutions has announced that its longtime CEO, Paul Ahern, passed away on Jan. 17 following a battle with liver and pancreatic cancer. He was 66.

The company pointed out in its announcement of Ahern’s passing that “Paul was such an integral part of Cypress that to say this is a heartrending loss would be an understatement.”

A security industry veteran, Ahern joined Cypress in 2005. By 2007 he was named the company’s president and logged more than a million miles to meet with customers regarding Cypress solutions. The company noted that “Many industry acquaintances became dear friends, and Paul looked forward to seeing them at ISC West and other industry events which he participated in, along with Cypress founder and co-owner Tony Diodato.”

Ahern viewed Cypress and the security industry as an extension of family, according to Cypress. “It can’t be stated heavily enough how much he adored everyone at the office, the people he worked with, at home or on the road,” said Brien Ahern, Paul’s son. “Every car ride I’d be in with him, even if it was only 30 minutes, at least one person was called, or called him to talk about life and family. He went out of his way to make sure everyone was looked after with the highest selflessness.”

The company noted that Ahern was devoted to his family. He is survived by his wife, Kim; son Brien; daughter Anna and son-in-law Bradley Brewer, and his one-month-old granddaughter Juniper.

Based in Lapeer, Mich., Cypress Integration Solutions is a designer and manufacturer of electronic security products and technologies. The company specializes in unique and secure communication solutions for physical and logical access control. Since 1983 Cypress has provided wired and wireless solutions to connect virtually any access control and security manufacturers’ hardware.

“We will miss Paul tremendously,” the company stated. “We know Paul would expect us to carry on in his absence and will strive to continue to prioritize and care for our customers, representatives, industry friends and our Cypress family and community.”