Lieutenant
Michael Lynch
Ladder 4
Laid
to Rest
on March 15, 2002
'An
Unbelievable Dad'
On
his days off, Lt. Michael F. Lynch, a firefighter at Ladder
Company 4 in Manhattan, loved to play with toy dinosaurs with
his elder son, Michael, 3. They would line them up by type and
take them for "far walks" — a game in which the dinosaurs foraged
for food and water. "He was an unbelievable dad," said his wife,
Denise. She said he would come home from a 24-hour shift and
see their other son, John Ryan, known as Jack, and say how "shocked
he was at how much Jack had grown." Jack is 1 year old today.
His nieces and nephews called Lieutenant Lynch, 33, who was
6 feet 5 inches and 230 pounds, Big Mike. The firefighters in
Ladder 4 called him Prancer, a nickname given him the night
he thought he heard a bell and started jumping around the firehouse
looking for it. Mrs. Lynch called him "drop-dead gorgeous."
Lieutenant Lynch was last seen on Sept. 11 helping people trapped
in an elevator in the lobby of 2 World Trade Center. Mrs. Lynch
hopes to meet someone from that elevator because she is certain
that its occupants survived. She said, "Those people were in
good hands with my husband." Profile published in THE NEW YORK
TIMES on February 24, 2002. LYNCH-Michael F. Of New Hyde Park,
New York, FDNY Ladder 4, heroically in the line of duty at WTC
on September 11, 2001, 33 years old. Devoted husband and best
friend of Denise (nee Bertrand). Loving father of Michael (three
years), and Jack Ryan (nine months). Beloved son of Catherine
(nee McGuire) and Daniel of Flushing, NY. Adored youngest brother
of Kathleen, Bernadette, Mary, Rory, Barbara, Danny (NYPD),
and Maureen. Wonderful caring uncle of Kerry, Katie, Michael,
Marcelle, Julia, Liam, Christina, Johnny, Andrew, Danny, Nicholas,
Olivia, Morgan, Hank, McKenzie, and Emily. Loyal brother-in-law
of John, Joe, John I, Tom, Hank, Chris, Anne Marie, Paul and
Brittini. Fond son-in-law of Joan. Dear nephew of Jimmy, Dolores,
and Rose. Cherished cousin and friend to many. A Celebration
of Life Mass will be held at Notre Dame R.C. Church, New Hyde
Park, NY, 9:30 AM on November 24th. Memorial donations may be
sent to Michael F. Lynch Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 279, New Hyde
Park, NY 11040 (private) or Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9
Memorial Fund, 782 8th Avenue, New York, New York 10036 (public).
Paid notice published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on November 21,
2001.
Illustrated
News Article
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Air
Force Reserve Article