‘He was truly a first-class man’

Lifelong Malverne resident Paul Lynch dies at 85

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There were three things that lifelong Malvernite Paul Lynch cared about more than anything, according to his daughter, Eileen Lynch O’Hara: his Catholic faith, his family and his friends.

“My dad’s faith in God was the driving force behind everything he did,” Lynch O’Hara said.

Lynch died in his home on July 23. He was 85.

The product of a Catholic education, he graduated from Chaminade High School in 1953, and earned a bachelor’s degree at the College of the Holy Cross in 1957 and a law degree at Fordham Law School in 1960. Lynch lived a life of faith and service to others.

“He used to stop by our house on his way home from Mass every day on his way to the bakery or the deli,” Lynch O’Hara recalled. “After greeting my husband, Tom, and I, he would ask, ‘What could I do to help you today?’ He made helping us his priority.”

Lynch was a highly respected attorney for more than 50 years until his recent retirement from Murphy & Lynch, PC. Earlier in his legal career, he worked at the Nassau County district attorney’s office and was active politically, assisting with the election campaign of former U.S. Rep. Norman F. Lent, who served in the House for 11 terms. Lynch also helped fellow Malvernite Francis Purcell with his election as Nassau County executive in 1978, a position Purcell held until 1987.

Lynch served in numerous roles in village government during the 1990s, including village justice, trustee, police commissioner and fire commissioner. “He was a good friend to many members of our village board and I,” Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett said. “We truly appreciate his service for the many years that he was a lifelong resident.”

“I can tell you that as fire commissioner, Paul was always concerned about the safety and welfare of our firefighters,” Village Historian David Weinstein recalled. “Paul was a caring, compassionate person. He will certainly be missed by all.”

Lynch was committed to the Catholic Church, and a lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne. He had served as an altar boy, and later volunteered as a parish trustee and a lector, and was a regular participant at daily Mass. He was a founder of the OLL Bazaar, a three-day, carnival-style celebration held in the village for more than a decade that attracted not only locals, but also residents of surrounding communities.

Lynch’s grandson Patrick O’Hara said that his grandfather’s sense of humor made him special. “He always seemed to have the perfect thing to say at the right time,” Patrick said. “He was truly a first-class man.”

Lynch was also an accomplished golfer. A longtime member and past president of the Garden City Country Club, he was proud of his seven holes in one. He enjoyed sharing his love of golf and all sports with his four children and six grandchildren, coaching and attending baseball, lacrosse, soccer, karate, tennis, volleyball and basketball games. He was also a passionate “dance grandfather.”

“He was a constant presence and mentor to all of us,” O’Hara said. “He also made sure to include his feedback, which was often very honest and blunt in true Pop Pop’s fashion.”

Lynch O’Hara said that her father enjoyed the company of the others, and that staying active helped him to develop lifelong relationships. “He cherished his friends from the many areas of his life that were important to him,” she said, “including friends from growing up in Malverne, friends from his active life in this community, friends from school, and friends from the Garden City Country Club. His friends added richness to his life, and they are all truly gifts to our family.”

Lynch was predeceased by his wife, Marilyn “Mickey” Lynch, and his two brothers, Peter and John. He is survived by Lynch O’Hara (Tom) and three other daughters, Virginia Lynch Super (Steven), Anne Lynch Hughes (Greg) and Theresa Lynch (Jonathan Kim), as well as six grandchildren.