OWEN M. LYNCH

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New York University

OWEN LYNCH Obituary

LYNCH--Owen M. PhD. Owen M. Lynch, PhD., of New York City passed away peacefully on April 26, 2013. He was 82 years old. Owen was the Charles F. Noyes Professor of Anthropology at New York University from 1974 until his retirement in 2003. Previously he taught on the Anthropology faculty of SUNY Binghamton. His contributions to urban anthropology and to the study of the Dalit community, formerly known as Untouchables, emotions in Indian life and the politics of emancipation led to his recognition as one of the outstanding scholars of South Asia. His works demonstrated his personal belief that anthropology could be a force of social action and justice. He was a central figure in shaping both the anthropological community and the South Asianist community in New York City. He was loved and respected by his family, students and colleagues, not only for his professional work but for his generosity of time and spirit, his good humor, and his soft-spoken, wise and fully-engaged presence. He was a graduate of Brooklyn Prep, Fordham University and Columbia University. Owen is survived by his brother, John Lynch of East Rockaway, NY, his sister, Betty Dowling of Natrona Heights, PA, and seventeen nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 25, 2013, at 12:00pm at The Faculty House of Columbia University, 64 Morningside Dr., New York.

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Published by New York Times on Jun. 23, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for OWEN LYNCH

13 Entries

Dr. Susan B Draper, phd

August 17, 2024

Owen was the kindest most generous mentor.

Roselyn Greenidge

June 17, 2020

Precious memories lingers forever

Roselyn Greenidge

July 5, 2013

Owen! I am so glad I was part of your world, you will be missed (and so will those Christmas cards I got from you each year). Like so many others whose path you have crossed,you have touched my heart with your generousity and kindness. RIP

July 4, 2013

A great loss for academic community in general and Dalit (ex-unotuchable)community in particular.
Personally I have lost my academic Guru. He was the only academician who patiently read my M.Phil. dissertation and wrote comments as well. He was visiting Agra at that time. It was 1994.
Those words gave me confidence and self-belief that I can also do something in academic field. Since then I always got his blessings and advise since then. In 2011 he wrote my recommendation for my Fulbright Fellowship, an honor.
And I got the fellowship. At the time when I visited Columbia University, as Visiting Fulbright Fellow,during January 2012 to May, 2012 I used to meet him regularly, at his home and also outside. Despite his illness he came to listen my lecture at Knox Hall (South Asia Center)Broadway, New York 26th March, 2012. The lecture was on the topic, "How Egalitarian is Indian Sociology". After listening my lecture he congratulated me and said, ''Vivek you are getting better and better". He knew me as a student and now he saw me as Associate Professor. He had told me
that he will give some comments on my book, 'Índia's Roaring Revolution' a sort of reply to Jafferlot-
'India's Silent Revolution'. I am afraid this is the only time he will not be able to keep his promise.
Long Live Lynch !! We all love him from core of the heart and he will reamin with us for ever. The whole Dalit Community in India and Diaspora is indebdetd to him because he gave their issues not only exposure but stood by the needey individuals among them.
Vivek Kumar (PhD.)
Associate Professor
Jawaharlal Nehru University (Inida)and
Former Visiting Prof. Columbia University, New York and Humboldt
University, Berlin , Germany

Frank Kehl

July 1, 2013

On College Walk as I was struggling with my stalled dissertation, Owen said, "[The]argument emerges from writing." That broke a log jam. Owen visited my fieldwork site, a shantytown in Hong Kong and was an "outside" member of my Ph.D. dissertation committee. As neighbors on Morningside Hts, we would frequently bump into each other, usually along Amsterdam outside the Cathedral of St. John, he on his constitutional, me walking my dog. These bumps would lead to rich conversations about India or China. Note that the word "gentle" keeps recurring in people's comments. Whatever else, he was a gentle soul.

Kelly Alley

June 27, 2013

Owen was a generous mentor to me. He was the first to reach out and encourage me to engage with our professional organization and he was always willing to support my work and the work of his younger colleagues. He guided me through many phases of my research and had very meaningful advice to give at every stage. He was a true soul and deeply loved within anthropology and in India by the people with whom he worked. Thank you so much for your love and insight, Owen.

M.A. Kalam

June 25, 2013

Owen seemed to have the knack of reaching out to people and making them feel wanted and comfortable. One was really fortunate to have a fellow-anthropologist go beyond the discipline and connect with people effortlessly; a marvelous trait for an active fieldworker who was so successful in settling down and living with the downtrodden and discriminated in India.

Hanna Lessinger

June 24, 2013

Owen is already profoundly missed among his large circle of friends in New York, across the U.S. and in India. Gentleness, humor and profound generosity combined with a sharp intellect to make him a unique person. Our hearts are with his loving family in mourning his loss.

Doranne & Jerry Jacobson

June 24, 2013

We remember Owen with deepest affection and join his family in mourning his loss. We sometimes called him Omji, our guru in Indian studies, and loved him for his thoughtfulness and gentle sensibilities. He will be in our hearts forever.

Doranne & Jerry Jacobson

June 24, 2013

We remember Owen with deepest affection and join his family in mourning his loss. He called him Omji, our guru in Indian studies, and loved him for his thoughtfulness and gentle sensibilities. He will be in our hearts forever.

Jack & Maureen Butler

June 23, 2013

May you rest in peace Owen.

Constance Sutton

June 23, 2013

Owen was my closest colleague from the time he joined the NYU Anthropology Department. We shared our thoughts on our research and teaching practices and drew on each other's work in the anthropology we did. He was also very thoughtful and kind with respect to my personal life as a married woman with a child.

Sue and Ainslie Embree

June 23, 2013

Owen was one of the very best students I ever had and a wonderful frien. He gave a secial grace note to our lives when he came to live in our small co-op on Morningside Drive. Sue and Ainslie Embree

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