Skip Lynch, 81, of Wyndmoor, PA, was born September 7, 1943, in Cedarhurst, NY. He was a loving husband to Maura ‘Whim’ Lynch (d. June 5, 2014) and father to Daphne Lynch Fifield and Raymond Chauncey Lynch, Jr.
Skip attended St Mark’s School in Massachusetts and graduated from Trinity College in Connecticut.. An appreciator of the arts and a lifelong artist himself, he received his Masters of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation he served as a Navy officer during the Vietnam War where he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal awarded to those who perform heroic or meritorious service. His work there was mostly focused on restoring infrastructure, including bridges damaged during the war. After his time in the military he returned to Philadelphia, a city he fell in love with during his time at Penn and married his sweetheart from Cedarhurst, Whim. Together they settled in Wyndmoor, PA, where they raised their two children and many West Highland White Terriers which were named after iconic bridges.
Founding the architectural firm Lynch Martinez with colleague and friend Oscar Martinez, he worked on large-scale commercial and community projects, including Wawa stores, the Gravers Lane Train Station restoration, the Milton Hershey School and numerous residential projects. He lent his support to Whim helping her build her needlepoint shop on Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill and as she established the non-profit Need in Deed which remains a thriving organization empowering children to be active members of their community through service.
He was a member of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill where Skip volunteered to serve the parish in many capacities including as a Vestry member, Usher, and Buildings & Grounds Committee member. Skip is also fondly remembered for his work organizing "Joyful Noise" events in the Sanctuary. A longtime member of the Sunnybrook Golf Club and the Bridgehampton Club, he also served on the board of Springside School (SCH) and was an admired Taekwondo instructor and 9th degree black belt at DeStolfo’s Premier Martial Arts in Conshohocken. For the last decade of his life, he enjoyed his retirement to the fullest with Jo Ann, traveling, kayaking, visiting his many lifelong friends, and attending museums, art galleries, movies and concerts.
He is survived by his sister, Madeline Anagnostopolis, and brother, George Lynch, his children Daphne Gaffney Lynch, Raymond Chauncey Lynch, Jr., and companion Jo Ann Miles Miller. He was the grandest of grandfathers to Abbot Low and Archer Ambrose Lynch and Arthur Harrison, Charles Augustus, and Edmund Chauncey Fifield.
A celebratory service will be held in the spring with details to be announced. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Need in Deed (needindeed.org).
