James J. Lynch Jr.

LYNCH James J. Lynch, Jr. died peacefully on April 10, 2013, surrounded by his four children and one granddaughter after a three year battle with Alzheimer's. He was born on December 11, 1924, and was 88 years young. He was truly "a Man Among Men." Mr. Lynch was a 1942 graduate of Jesuit High School and a member of the 1940 and 1941 State Champion Baseball teams and 1941 State Champion Football team. He attended Tulane University before receiving an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York in June 1943. He was a D-Day +1 veteran and holds the United States World War II Victory Medal and both the Atlantic and Pacific War Zone Medals in addition to the medals struck by the British government for D-Day Veterans and the Battle of The North Atlantic. He retired from service with a commission in the United States Maritime Service and Naval Reserve with the rank of Ensign. In 1994, Mr. Lynch was inducted into the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Sports Hall of Fame. In 1947, he began a career in the insurance industry which lasted sixty-three years as an executive with insurance companies and subsequently the presidency of his father's agency, James J. Lynch, Inc. He, as was his father, is a past president of the Independent Agents of Greater New Orleans (formerly the New Orleans Insurance Exchange) and a member of the executive committee of the Louisiana Association of Insurance Agents. Mr. Lynch was, also, a 4th degree Knights of Columbus (Marquette Council & Bienville Assembly) for fifty-eight years. He was a past Grand Knight and District Deputy. Mr. Lynch was also a member of the Knights of Babylon Carnival Organization, the International Order of Alhambra and was a member and past President of the Fun and Frolic Baseball Club. Mr. Lynch was preceded in death by his beloved wife of fifty-six years, Marjorie Robinson Lynch, his parents, Allouise Cronin Lynch and James J. Lynch and his grandson, Patrick M. Lynch, Jr. He is survived by his children: James J. Lynch, III, Patrick M. Lynch and his wife, Lee Francis, Timothy G. Lynch, and Gerilyn Lynch Brouphy and her husband, Barry, and five grandchildren: Michelle Lynch Wedge, James J. Lynch, IV, Shannon Brouphy Dufrene, Timothy G. Lynch, Jr, and Jason M. Lynch. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren: Presly J. Lynch and Daniel Wedge, IV. The family expresses special thanks to his caregivers: Gerty Richardson, Noella Foley, Laura Moten and Sandra Kelley. Visitation will be held at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home 4747 Veterans Blvd on Sunday, April 14th from 6:00 P. M. until 9:00 P. M. On Monday, April 15th, visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P. M. in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs at Jesuit High School. Mass of Christian burial will follow at 1:00 P.M. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Jesuit High School preferred. The online guestbook is available at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.