- Internet pioneer Fearghas McKay, celebrated for his leadership roles across the industry and honored as an “Africa Peering Champion,” has passed away, remembered as a generous mentor, sailor, and father of two.
Fearghas McKay, the internet evangelist and peering manager for FlexOptix, has died.
McKay held various roles in an internet and software career that started in 1993 as webmaster for Demon internet. Other roles included being CEO of Declarator, Chief Lobbyist Officer at FLEXOPTIX GmbH, R&D Manager at the AV Department, and CTO at Matrix.
“Fearghas will be dearly missed by the whole community,” wrote the X account Dr. Peering. “His larger-than-life personality, warmth, and kindness touched so many folks.”
McKay was a ‘people person’ and his most recent roles involved customer facing tasks. He was also a keen sailor who would post about his adventures on the ocean in his travels across the globe.
McKay was also one of 13 people recently named “Africa Peering Champions” at the African Peering and Interconnection Forum, held in August in Lagos, Nigeria.
“He is a silent warrior for the good of the Net,” wrote John Brown, the internet technologist, on LinkedIn. “He is one of those ‘old internet guys’ that grew up helping others learn and build a better net.”
McKay leaves behind two children.
