The Irvington Historical Society and our entire Irvington Community celebrate the lives of our friends Paul Dinan and John (“Jack”) Edward Lynch.

Paul “Babe” Dinan, 93, passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Overlook Hospital in Summit after a brief illness.  Born in Dobbs Ferry, New York, he grew up in Irvington-on-Hudson.  He met his wife of 57 years, Susan, while employed in Burlington, VT for the Kimberly-Clarke Corp.  In 1973, he joined his older brother’s Madison Avenue firm, Dinaco, Inc. and moved to Westfield, NJ with their three children. 

Paul was a standout athlete at Irvington High School where his record for the 100-yard dash still stands.  He was awarded athletic scholarships to both NC State and, later, Utah State, where he graduated with a degree in education.  At both colleges, he excelled in football and baseball.  A knee injury prevented him from pursuing inquiries from the NY Giants, the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers.  He also had a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field and played a year of professional baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates farm team.  Paul then served in the US Army during the Korean War.

During his corporate career, he became an avid golfer and longtime member of Plainfield Country Club.  Although he didn’t start playing golf until his 30s, he had three hole-in-ones.

He will be remembered for his razor-sharp wit, sense of humor and easy-going personality.  His friendships were long and true.

John (“Jack”) Edward Lynch, 85, died peacefully at home on December 24, 2022.  He was born August 14, 1937, and grew up in Irvington, New York.  He and his twin sister, Franny, were the eldest of five children born to Ruth and Frank Lynch.  Jack graduated from Archbishop Stepinac High School in 1955 and earned a degree in Chemistry from Fordham University in 1959 and a law degree from Georgetown Law School in 1962.  He began his legal career at Union Carbide.

Jack married Helen Mar Craig on February 3, 1962, and lived in Irvington, New York for 30 years.  They have three children: Caitlin Craig Lynch, Genevieve Lynch DeBree (Derek DeBree), and Margaret Lynch Doyle (Thomas Robert Doyle), and eight grandchildren: Madigan ‘Madden’ Gracey Murray (Jake Murray), Jedidiah ‘Jed’ Steele Gracey, Angus Calhoun Gracey, Schuyler Hesseltine DeBree, Emmett Harrison DeBree, Helen ‘Hattie’ Patricia Doyle, Thomas Robert Seamus Doyle, and John Edward Murphy Doyle.

Jack formed his own firm, Felfe & Lynch, which focused exclusively on intellectual property law.  Jack was driven in his career by curiosity and respect for the law and enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience.  He especially enjoyed teaching patent law classes at Georgetown Law School and the University of San Francisco School of Law.  Jack traveled extensively for work and pleasure, and in recent years, he and Helen took trips with to Spain, Ireland, Israel, and Lourdes, France.  Jack loved witty humor, especially a good Irish joke.

An avid fisherman, Jack found his way to Block Island in the early 1980s and built a house which would become the family gathering spot for the next 30 years. He was active in Block Island life, especially St. Andrews Parish.

Jack wrote “Go Fish”, a fishing column which appeared in the Block Island Times for many years.  He published his first book, Fishing Up The Moon: A Block Island Fishing Guide, in 2000.  Jack’s second book, Wetherbee’s Block Island: Paintings from the 1940s followed in 2010.  His third book, Sword: Harpooning Swordfish Off The New England Coast, And Its Demise, was published in 2010.

Jack had many interests and passions, including fishing, hunting, photography, music, writing, reading, travel, and cooking. His abiding love, appreciation, and knowledge of the natural world inspired many.  He spent his final years fishing, working, and spending time with his friends and family.  In the end, though, it was his deep faith that guided him through his journey.  Jack died as he lived, with family and friends near and far holding him in love and esteem.