Obituary of John Lynch

On Monday, September 21, 2015, at the Regional Rehabilitation Centre in Hamilton, John peacefully succumbed to a subdural haematoma which he suffered while golfing to support KidsAbility, his favourite charity. He was the much loved husband of Mary (nee Crossingham), with whom he celebrated 50 wonderful years of marriage this July. John will also be lovingly missed by his brother-in-law John A. Crossingham and his wife Libby of St. Catharines. He was the favourite uncle (UJ) of John J. Crossingham (Lesa) of Toronto, Vicki Ingham (Jason) of St. Catharines, Jodi Crossingham (Mike) of Toronto and Wendy Darby (David) of St. Catharines. Great Uncle John was very special to Isla and Holden, Sarah, Xander and Jack, Gwen and Maeve. John was born in Toronto and was the son of the late Jean (nee Hyndman) and Joseph Lynch. He attended UTS and the University of Toronto where he obtained a B. Comm degree. As a chartered accountant, he worked with the Toronto office of Thorne Mulholland Howson and McPherson. In 1973, John eagerly joined their Kitchener office to create the tax department at what is now KPMG. He spent his whole business career with this firm earning his FCPA designation before "retiring" in 2006. As a dedicated member of the of the KW community John was a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Waterloo (President 1981-82) and a Paul Harris Fellow. He served as president of the cba (conservative business association) and at the time of his death was the executive director. John's dedication was acknowledged by the City of Waterloo Award in 2010, the KidsAbility Award in 2005 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012. John was committed to bettering health care for the KW community. He was treasurer of the One Voice One Vision Campaign and also of the Grand River Hospital Foundation. His greatest passion was KidsAbility where he was president of the operating board and later of the foundation. An avid sportsman, he participated in the Canadian Figure Skating Dance Competition and in the Canadian Olympic Sailing trials. He enjoyed curling and was Vice Chair of the Labatt Brier in 1986 held in KW. Skiing, golfing, photography, boating on Georgian Bay and travelling anywhere in the world were enthusiastically pursued. He treasured his friendships at Westmount Golf and Country Club and Gyro Club of KW. A mentor to many, he was a friend to all. With a lifelong interest in politics at all levels, he most surely will regret not being able to vote in the upcoming election. John's family will receive friends at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo on Sunday, September 27 from 2 pm to 5 pm. A celebration of John's life will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2015, 2 pm, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 22 Willow Street, Waterloo. Following cremation, interment will take place in the Crossingham family plot at Highland Memory Gardens, Toronto. Immediately following the service, friends are warmly invited to a reception to share their memories of John. Condolences for the family and donations to the John and Mary Lynch Endowment Fund at KidsAbility would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy and can be arranged through the funeral home www.erbgood.com or 519.745.8445. John's family is truly grateful for the care and concern received from both the medical profession and our friends.