JOHN died in Sturgeon Falls, Canada, on June 7th, after a long and tragic battle with malignant melanoma, a battle he fought with dignity and outstanding courage. He died in the community in which he had practised for over 20 years. The third son of Mona and the late Paddy Lynch, he was educated by the Jesuits in Galway and qualified from University College, Galway in 1970.
As a student, at class reunions, and on his frequent visits home he was the life and soul of the party. He had the gift of finding the humorous side of any situation, and we all enjoyed his role as an after dinner speaker and raconteur. His relaxed, laid back manner enabled him to make friends easily. John loved life and enjoyed himself. However, in the midst of all the fun he never lost the chance to lend a helping hand.
He was committed to his family and his patients. He was also committed to the community and won the Glen Sawyer Award, the highest honour awarded by the Ontario Medical Association for outstanding service to the profession and the community. He was chairman of the Board of Governors of Canadore College at the time of his death, a director of the National Board of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation and an honorary member of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. He was past chairman of the Family Practice Board of the Ontario Medical Association and past president of the Ontario Coroners' Association. He was also the district federal aviation officer, district medical officer of health and a member of the district Mentally Handicapped Association.
He is survived by his wife Anne, five children Ciara, Eamonn, Gavin, Connor and Ailish, his mother and seven brothers and, one sister. A memorial mass will take place in the Jesuit Church in Galway on July 27th at 12 o'clock, after which he will be laid to rest in the new cemetery.