Obituary of Alfred T. Lynch

“Coach” Al Lynch passed away November 25, 2022, in Olympia, Washington.  He was born June 2, 1932, to Alfred Thomas Lynch Sr. and Harriett Irma Smith in Boston, Massachusetts. He lived in Boston until 1946, when he moved to Henderson, Nevada; then on to San Bernadino, California; Port Angeles, Washington; Bellingham, Washington; Bellevue, Washington; and finally settling in Olympia in 1973.

 

Al graduated from Boulder City High School (1949), and attended San Bernadino Junior College (1949-1950), San Diego State College (1951-1952), and Western Washington College (1957-1962) from which he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1959 and Master of Education Degree in 1962.

 

Al served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War (1952-1955).  He married Nancy Johnson on August 18, 1990, in Olympia. He was a member of Tumwater First Baptist Church, Calvary Chapel of Olympia, local and national WAVSNP, PAVE, and Lions Club.

 

Professionally, Al was a teacher/coach in the Stanwood School District (1962-1965); salesman at Proctor & Gamble (1965-1967); teacher (1967-1970) and Assistant Principal at Echo Glen Children’s Center, North Bend, Washington (1970-1973); Special Education Director at Educational Service District (ESD) #113 (1973-1975); Supervisor, Special Needs, State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (1975-1987); self-employed as an Education and Business Consultant (1987-1996); Principal of Northwest Christian High School (NCHS), Olympia (1999-2009); Dean of Students at NCHS (2009-2013); Assistant girls’ high school basketball coach at Timberline, River Ridge, Olympia and Tenino High Schools (2013-2020).

 

Al was one of a kind.  When others would have retired at age 66, he became a high school Principal at NCHS until he was 77. He then became Dean of Students until he was 81.  He went on to coach girls’ high school basketball until he was 87 and COVID shut down the programs.  Only a stroke at age 88 slowed him.

 

Al was a natural coach and mentor.  He believed “A good coach can win a game; a great coach changes lives.” For discouraged teens at NCHS, he’d remind them that “God don’t make no junk!”  He loved encouraging others to do their best and was always a champion for including special needs students in vocation and recreation. 

 

Al was an avid sports enthusiast.  He played fast pitch, softball, volleyball, and racket ball. He was a huge fan of the University of Washington Huskies and Seattle Mariners. He also loved working in the garden. Most importantly, Al loved and served the Lord, including hosting men’s breakfasts and Bible studies at church and Olympic Crest. 

 

Al is survived by his wife, Nancy Johnson-Lynch; sons, Al Lynch III, Rick Geyen, Sean Lynch, and Tim Lynch; daughters, Traci Fredrickson and Kim Hahn; 18 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and brother, Kevin Lynch.  He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Donald Joseph Lynch; and sister, Carol McMahon.

 

There will be a private family gathering. 

 

Memorial donations may be made to Young Life, P.O. Box 1126, Rainier, WA 98576.

 

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