Charles "Peter" Lynch

1950 - 2021

Niantic - The family of Charles "Peter" Lynch is deeply saddened by his untimely death from a fall. Peter was born in Fort Benning, Ga., to Col. Robert and Adell Mulkey Lynch May 27, 1950. Peter was an "army brat" and grew up making many moves to new cities and new schools, though he often said San Antonio, Texas, where his grandparents lived, was home to him. He was the eldest of four brothers and two sisters who were bred in the West Point tradition of honor, courage and country. His grandfather was a military commander in Japan, with General MacArthur and later at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. His father and two uncles were West Point graduates, and his great-great-uncle Sam was a cavalry Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt going up San Juan Hill. Unsurprisingly, his was an upbringing that was somewhat formal with many expectations. While his father Col. Lynch served in Korea, and two tours in Vietnam, Peter had the responsibility as the eldest to help his mother at home with the five younger siblings and life's daily challenges.

Yet throughout, Peter had an innate drive to go his own way in his own laid back, soft spoken manner. He never felt the need to follow the family tradition of going to West Point. He knew he was an artist and strived to get accepted to college and pay for it himself. At the College of Santa Fe, he excelled in a variety of creative pursuits: acting, designing, painting and making wonderful pottery. It was here he met his wife and steadfast companion, Deborah Dwyer. Together they went on to Trinity University Master of Fine Arts graduate program in Dallas, Texas, under the tutelage of Paul Baker. He loved his time learning his craft at the Dallas Theatre Center, and made many lifelong friends and colleagues. From there, he taught drama and design at Trinity University; then back to Dallas, as a member of the Dallas Theatre Centre's professional company. Following a move to Illinois, Peter was the managing artistic director of the Springfield Theater Center and Theatre 3 Dinner Theater for nine years; and then on to Denver for eleven years as the head of the Stagecraft and Design Program and Fine Arts chair at the Denver School of the Arts. After moving to Niantic, in the summer of 2005, he would come to Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort as a member of the Design Production Group, until his retirement in 2019.

Peter Lynch was a wonderful director and teacher. He directed and/or designed well over 200 productions: from "Pump Boys & Dinettes" to "Marat/Sade," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Sweeney Todd," "Dracula," "Goya," "Widows Watch," "Little Shop of Horrors," "Trojan Women," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "MacBeth," the list goes on. His students loved him. He was able to create a curriculum designed to facilitate high academic achievement as well as to develop a sense of personal responsibility, a sense of self-worth and a sense of belonging and having responsibility to the community. Peter's amalgamation of talents came packaged in a charmingly friendly, witty, sincere and caring human being who adored his wife, his children and his profession. In recent years, he was elected to the East Lyme Planning Commission and actively supported the East Lyme Democratic Party until ill health made him scale back his activities.

He was predeceased by his parents Col. Robert and Adell Lynch; and his mother-in-law Connie Dwyer. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 50 years, Deborah Dwyer Lynch; his son Ryan Lynch and daughter-in-law Kim Willey, Denver, Colo.; his daughter Taylor Lynch, Portland, Ore., and father-in-law Bill Dwyer; his brothers, Robert "CR," Michael, San Antonio, Texas, Patrick, San Antonio, Texas, and their wives, Leslie, Denise and Miranda; his sisters, Nancy, San Antonio, Texas, and Kathy and her husband Jim Leach, Annapolis, Md.; his brother-in-law, Deb's brother, Bill Dwyer and his wife Doreen; his nieces, Molly, Melissa and Gillian; his nephews, Adam, Christopher, Connor and Stuart; and a multitude of cousins.

He touched so many lives; and we feel his absence in the world keenly. We are all devastated by Peter Lynch's sudden demise, but comforted by the memories and love of him that fill our hearts.

"May all the stars in all the heavens show you the path to peace. I will wait for you. If I fall behind, wait for me."

A Celebration of Life will be arranged at a later date.