Christopher Jude Lynch

Christopher Jude Lynch, 61, currently of Jacksonville, FL passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at Baptist Health in Jacksonville.
Chris was born in New York, NY on March 31st 1964 to the late John "Christy" and Mary "Maureen" Lynch as the first of five children. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College in 1991 and enlisted in the United States Navy Reserves as a Radioman in 1997. On February 19th 1994, Chris married his wife of 31 years, Nancy Buzalsky and in 1995 they welcomed their first child Kelsey. Not long after in 1997 Abigeal was born, followed by John in 1998, and Jude in 2001. Chris took immense pride in his new and rapidly growing family.
Following the attacks of September 11th 2001, he was commissioned as a Civil Engineering Officer in the U.S. Navy, colloquially known as a Seabee. LTJG Chris Lynch's unit, deployed in 2004 for a year to Ramadi and Al Asad, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served with distinction as the Alpha Company Commander and Detachment Officer-in-Charge across Iraq.
In 2008, Chris received orders to active duty and was stationed in Naples, Italy as part of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), where he and his family enjoyed traveling Europe together. Here he also earned his Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida. In 2011, Chris was stationed in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and received his Masters in Military Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff College before returning to Naples, Italy this time as part of Allied Joint Forces Command Naples. In 2013, LT Chris Lynch made his second combat deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Here he meritoriously served as the Joint Engineering Branch Head and Chief Infrastructure Officer as part of International Security Assistance Forces Headquarters, tasked with improving the infrastructure of US and coalition bases and roads across the country. Following his return from Afghanistan, he resumed his work in Italy working to improve infrastructure across Europe.
Returning home from overseas in 2015, the Lynch's moved to Colts Neck, New Jersey as part of NAVFAC Mid Atlantic where Chris worked to provide facility support across the East Coast. Here the LCDR Lynch and his team were awarded the SECNAV Environmental Excellence Award as well as the Environmental Champion Award from the EPA for his work to establish the first protected oyster reefs at Naval Weapons Station Earle, Colts Neck, New Jersey.
Enjoying the adventure of living overseas, LCDR Lynch took orders to NAVFAC Europe, Africa, Central Command located in Bahrain. Here Chris worked to improve the critical infrastructure across Africa and the Middle East. In 2020 Chris and Nancy moved to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland once again as part of Naval Facilities Engineering Command. After his meritorious naval service LCDR Lynch decided to leave the Navy to pursue civil engineering in the public service sector, taking a job in Vincenza Italy. LCDR Christopher Lynch's awards and citations include the Defense Meritourious Service Medal, 2-Joint Service Commendation Medals, 4-Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achivement Medal, 2-Navy and Marine Corps Achivment Medal with Combat V for Valor, 2-Combat Action Ribbons, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal with Combat Operations Device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device for mobilation to active duty, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, 7-Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbons, ISAF NATO Medal, Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Seabee Combat Warfare Officer Insignia.
Chris and Nancy resumed traveling across Europe while he worked in Vicenza, Italy. His work also took him to countries like Chad, Gabon, and Ghana. In 2024, Chris returned to the United States to Jacksonville, Florida to work to restore the Everglades with the Army Corps of Engineers. Chris's passion for civil engineering, the environment, and traveling took him to four continents and over 30 countries. Chris remained a devout Catholic, a prominent member of the Knights of Columbus, and participated in multiple pilgrimages across the world including the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage in Ireland, Knock Shrine in Ireland, Lourdes pilgrimage in France, Holy Land pilgrimage in Israel and Medjugorje pilgrimage site in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his spare time, he enjoyed going to the Opera frequenting Metropolitan Opera House in New York and even traveled to Puccini's hometown in Lucca, Italy and Wagner's Opera house, Bayreuth Festspeilhaus, in Bayreuth, Germany. He also enjoyed deep sea fishing, running, doing CrossFit workouts and being as close to the ocean as possible.
Chris enjoyed traveling the world, but Ireland was always a special place and piece of home for him. He spent many summers there and thoroughly enjoyed memories made with his family in Roscommon. Chris held many titles in his life, Lieutenant Commander, Husband, Brother, Cousin, Friend but his most honored title was Dad to his four Children – Kelsey, Abby, John, and Jude.
Chris is predeceased by his parents, John and Mary (Cunningham) Lynch; and many aunts and uncles.
Chris is survived by his wife of 31 years, Nancy (Buzalsky); his four children, Kelsey Lynch and her husband Conor Martin, Abigeal Lynch, John Lynch and his fiancé Nicole Ferro, and Jude Lynch; his two sisters, Catherine Lynch of Long Beach, NY and Maureen Lynch of Bayside, NY; two brothers, Eugene Lynch of Bayside and Thomas Lynch of Bayside, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, June 1, 2025 from 1 to 6pm at the Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave. Metuchen NJ 08840.
The Funeral will take place on Monday, June 2, 2025 at 9:30am from the Costello-Runyon Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:15am at St. Francis Cathedral in Metuchen.
Chris will be laid to rest at Oran Cemetery, County Roscommon, Ireland.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chris' to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or to the United Service Organizations at www.uso.org