James ‘Jimmy’ Lynch

JAMES P. “JIM” LYNCH in Woburn, suddenly at home, July 24th, at sixty five years of age. Beloved son of the late Edward and Katherine (Sweeney) Lynch. Cherished father of Lauren A. Janusz, her husband Mitchell of NH, and Brandon J. Lynch of Woburn. Dear brother of Thomas Lynch, his wife Carol of Burlington, William Lynch of VT and Edward Lynch of CA. Also survived by loving nieces, nephews and friends. A Funeral will be held in the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Monday, July 31st, at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10:30 a.m. Burial is private. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Funeral Home Sunday, July 30th, from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Remembrances may be made in Jim’s honor to Woburn Boys & Girls Club at 40 Hudson Street, Woburn, MA 01801 or The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.

OBITUARY:

James “Jimmy” P. Lynch, 65, of Woburn, passed away unexpectedly on July 24, 2017 at his home. He was the son of the late Edward and Katherine (Sweeney) Lynch of Woburn. Cherished father of Brandon Lynch of Woburn and Lauren (Lynch) Janusz and her husband Mitchell of Salem, NH. Dear brother of Thomas and his wife Carol of Burlington, William of Vermont, and Edward of California. Additionally, his loss is mourned by his former spouse and mother to his children Sandra (Cummings) Lynch. Jimmy is also survived by his long-term partner and best friend, Anne Murphy and her children Alison Murphy Mabardy and her husband Nick of Boston, and Brian Murphy and his wife Nancy of Natick, as well as “Papa” to Hazel and Sarah Murphy.

Jimmy was born and raised in Woburn, MA. He attended St. Charles School and graduated from Woburn Senior High School in 1970 where he played hockey and baseball. He went on to study Health and Physical Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst on a hockey scholarship, earning a Bachelor’s degree in 1976. He continued his education at Salem State College, earning a Master’s degree in Special Education in 2000.

He secured a teaching position in Woburn Public Schools shortly after earning his Bachelor’s degree and taught both Physical Education and Special Education throughout the 1970s. He specialized in working with students who struggled with obsessive-compulsive disorders, ADD/ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, bipolar disorder and Asperger’s syndrome. Concurrently, he served as the Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach at Woburn Senior High School. Beginning in the 1980s, Jimmy focused his career on carpentry and woodworking until the mid-1990s. In 1997, he continued his teaching career at SEEM Collaborative in Stoneham as a Physical Education teacher. At the time, SEEM did not have a vocational component in carpentry or woodshop. According to the Principal at the time, “Jimmy was given an empty room in the basement, a box of old hammers, a case of assorted nails, and collaborative blessing to be creative! Within a calendar year, Jimmy designed and operated one of the most impressive shop programs available.” He began working at the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield as a Special Education teacher in 2011 while serving as the Junior Varsity Baseball Coach there as well. He retired from his career in teaching during the spring of 2015. His love for educating children and helping them excel academically and athletically was apparent throughout his career and personal life. Students from decades of a successful career have praised and thanked him throughout life for his dedication and unending support.

From an early age, Jimmy was extremely athletically-inclined and loved sports of all kinds. He managed and played on a semi-professional baseball team entitled the Woburn Recs throughout the 1970s. He continued to play intramural hockey into the 1990s. He also took pride in his advanced carpentry skills and was always a “helping hand” to friends or neighbors who needed assistance around the house or yard. Much of his work remains as a remembrance of Jimmy in the homes of his family and friends.

Jimmy was a constant in his children’s lives, engaging them in many activities from a young age. He enjoyed skating, skiing, and swimming with them as well riding the roller coaster at Canobie Lake Park or breezing down a hill on a toboggan. He especially enjoyed coaching his daughter’s soccer and basketball teams throughout her youth and adolescence. His son fondly recalls their trip to a music store where Jimmy helped purchase a beautiful drum set to support his child’s love of music. Jimmy’s children’s needs and wants were always placed above his own.

Jimmy enjoyed golfing, kayaking, skiing, biking, spending time with family and friends, grilling and sitting in front of a bonfire, as well as attending sporting events and renovating his home. He traveled extensively all over the US, Canada, the Islands, and Europe. Over the past few years, Jimmy grew close to his new son-in-law, Mitch, through their shared enjoyment of sports, bad jokes, and mutual respect and love for Lauren. Jimmy valued their bond so deeply, that he even gifted Mitch his first set of golf clubs and shoes to get him out on the green! Once he retired, he became an active member of the Woburn Country Club golf league and sincerely appreciated the time he spent in the sunshine putting away with friends. In addition to Anne’s grandchildren, Jimmy truly adored his “grandpuppies,” Lexi and Koby. His children would often hear him express love and amazement towards the dogs with whom he had become so close.

Visiting hours will be held at Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, on Sunday, July 30 from 3 to 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Church on Monday, July 31. At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jimmy’s honor to the Woburn Boys & Girls Club at 40 Hudson Street, Woburn, MA 01801 or “The Jimmy Fund” at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.