Robert J. Lynch

1932 - 2022

Robert J. Lynch 1932-2022

Charlottesville, VA — Robert Joseph Lynch, a resident of Commonwealth Senior Living in Charlottesville, died at home on January 26, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Louise (Bromley) Lynch. They were married for 61 years.

Mr. Lynch was born in Somerville, MA in 1932, the son of the late John E. and Kathryn (Gorham) Lynch. After finishing grammar school, he moved with his family to California and graduated from Pomona High School in 1950. He attended Mt. San Antonio Junior College, Walnut CA, where he played football, and graduated with a BA from California State University, Long Beach, where he also played football and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. He later received an MS in Library Science from Florida State University, Tallahassee; an MBA from Western New England University, Springfield, MA; and did extensive graduate study in Public Administration through the New England cluster of Nova University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

During the Korean War, Mr. Lynch served in an Army Infantry Heavy Weapons company. He was later recruited and, after completing special schooling and training, was accepted as a Special Agent in the Army Counterintelligence Corps. His total military service of nearly eight years included assignments in Korea, Austria, and Germany. He was awarded five medals as well as a Letter of Commendation from Headquarters I Corps Group, Korea, and a Certificate of Recognition for his intelligence service during the Cold War from the Secretary of Defense. Mr. Lynch proudly served his country overseas in wartime as did his father in the Spanish-American War and his brother in WWII.

Mr. Lynch began his professional academic library career at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton. He then became Head of the Acquisitions Department in the Milton S. Eisenhower Library at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. In 1970 he became Executive Officer and soon after, Associate Director for Technical Services for the libraries at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He retired from the University in 1997 after 27 years of service.

Mr. Lynch was selected as a member of Beta Phi Mu, International Library Science Honor Society and was a professional member of the American Library Association where he served on various technical communities. He was a member of the University of Massachusetts Faculty Senate and served on a number of University committees including the Program and Budget Council. He was a member of the American Birding Association and the Hampshire and Cape Cod Bird Clubs. He was an avid reader of history and, along with his wife, enjoyed cross- country skiing, kayaking, birding and traveling.

During his tenure at UMass Amherst, Mr. Lynch and his wife resided in Amherst and Hadley, MA and upon his retirement spent 11 years in Brewster on Cape Cod before a move to Lincoln, NE and then back to western Massachusetts in South Hadley. In 2019 they finally settled in Charlottesville, VA to be closer to one of their daughters.

He was predeceased by his eldest daughter Melanie Lynch of Annapolis, MD. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters: Susan Dwyer (Matthew) of Charlottesville, VA, Nancy Robinson (Mark) of Hadley, MA, Karen Curtis of Hadley, MA, as well as six grandchildren: Sean, Katharine, Jamie, Lauren, Hannah and Hailey.

According to his wishes, there will be no funeral services; interment will be at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.