John Edward Lynch, retired attorney, author
John Edward Lynch (Jack, Da, Captain Jack), 85, died peacefully at home Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. He was born Aug. 14, 1937, and grew up in Irvington, N.Y. He and his twin sister, Franny, were the eldest of five children born to Ruth and Frank Lynch. Jack graduated from Archbishop Stepinac High School in 1955, and earned a degree in chemistry from Fordham University in 1959 and a law degree from Georgetown Law School in 1962. He began his legal career at Union Carbide.
Jack married Helen Mar Craig Feb. 3, 1962, and lived in Irvington, N.Y., for 30 years. They have three children, Caitlin Craig Lynch, Genevieve Lynch DeBree (Derek DeBree) and Margaret Lynch Doyle (Thomas Robert Doyle); and eight grandchildren: Madigan ‘Madden’ Gracey Murray (Jake Murray), Jedidiah ‘Jed’ Steele Gracey, Angus Calhoun Gracey, Schuyler Hesseltine DeBree, Emmett Harrison DeBree, Helen ‘Hattie’ Patricia Doyle, Thomas Robert Seamus Doyle and John Edward Murphy Doyle.
Jack formed his own firm, Felfe & Lynch, which focused exclusively on intellectual property law. Some of his clients included Ludwig Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Cold Spring Harbor Labs and Anocoil. In 1998, the firm merged with Fulbright & Jaworski, and he and Helen moved to Alexandria, Va.
Jack was driven in his career by curiosity and respect for the law, and enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience. He especially enjoyed teaching patent law classes at Georgetown Law School and the University of San Francisco School of Law. Jack retired from the law firm and from teaching, but he continued to work with clients, including Form Portfolio, India Globalization Capital Inc. (IGC) and a medical device inventor.
Jack traveled extensively for work and pleasure: Germany, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Japan, the UK and France. He taught patent law abroad in Dublin, Prague and Bilbao, Spain. In recent years, he and Helen took trips with America Media to Spain, Ireland, Israel and Lourdes, France. Jack loved witty humor, especially a good Irish joke.
An avid fisherman, Jack found his way to Block Island in the early 1980s and built a house that would become the family gathering spot for the next 30 years. He was active in Block Island life, especially St. Andrews Parish, Block Island Maritime Institute (BIMI), for which he served as president from 2014-17, and The Mary D. Fund. Jack enjoyed a lifelong friendship with Mary Donnelly, founder of the fund and legendary Island nurse. One snowy New Year’s Eve in Vermont, Jack and a group of friends came up with the idea of The Mary D. Ball to benefit the Mary D. Fund, which was first held in August of 1993 and has become a popular annual Island event.
Jack wrote Go Fish, a fishing column that appeared in the Block Island Times for many years. He published his first book, “Fishing Up The Moon: A Block Island Fishing Guide,” in 2000. Jack was a member of the Angler’s Club of New York, and hosted an annual fishing week on the island for over 25 years, featuring late-night bass fishing and splendid meals with storytelling that went on for hours. In June 2022, Jack proudly walked his eldest granddaughter down the aisle, and then took two of his grandsons to the island for what would be his final fishing week. Duck hunting was also a lifelong pursuit for Jack, particularly in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, where he spent countless hours in marshes and in fields planted with corn and sunflowers. The company of his friends brought Jack great fulfillment.
Jack’s second book, “Wetherbee's Block Island: Paintings from the 1940s,” followed in 2010. With his daughter Meg, he researched, documented and wrote about the work of Holden Wetherbee, an artist who painted now-fading murals of post-war Block Island life throughout the island. His third book, “Sword: Harpooning Swordfish Off The New England Coast, And Its Demise,” was published in 2010. Jack maintained the story would make an excellent screenplay.
Jack had many interests and passions, including fishing, hunting, photography, music, writing, reading, travel, and cooking. His abiding love, appreciation and knowledge of the natural world inspired many. It was through a Block Island Maritime Institute education program that Jack helped bring children from Christo Rey Schools and San Miguel Academy of Newburgh to the island for five days of exploration, ecological studies and recreational fun. Jack and Helen were proud to be honored by San Miguel Academy at their annual Defying the Odds Dinner in September 2022.
In 2020, Jack and Helen settled in Rehoboth Beach, to a family house that featured prominently during their courtship and in their early married years. He spent his final years fishing, working, and spending time with his friends and family.
After being diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer in November, Jack looked to medical science to help him. Having spent his career working with cancer researchers, he was fully aware of recent breakthroughs in immunotherapy. In the end, though, it was his deep faith that guided him through his journey. Jack’s passing on Christmas Eve was consistent with the lifelong trust he put in his faith that Christ was central to every aspect of his life. Jack died as he lived, with family and friends near and far, holding him in love and esteem.
Jack is predeceased by his mother Ruth Lynch Whalen; father Frank Murphy Lynch; twin sister Frances Lynch Schreier; brother Michael B. Lynch; as well as many dear friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 31, at St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 30, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes. Burial will be private. Guests are invited to wear pink and/or green, Jack’s favorite colors.
In lieu of flowers, consider donating to The Mary D. Fund (Block Island); San Miguel Academy of Newburgh (New York), newburghsanmiguel.org; Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963; or Melanoma Research Foundation, 1420 K St., N.W., 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, donate.melanoma.org.
Visit Mr. Lynch’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
