Michael Lynch

Michael Lynch, 67, of Frederick passed away on May 20, 2023.  He was the loving husband of Karen Kromer Lynch.  Born on June 7, 1955 in Baltimore, MD, he was the youngest son of the late Kevin Lynch and the late Mary Pat (Forquer) Lynch.

He attended Kenyon College in Ohio, where he majored in French & Spanish.  He spent his junior year in Bogotá, Colombia, where he discovered a love of Latin America and traveling abroad.  After graduation he returned to South America and traveled down the Amazon River, eventually landing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he taught English as a Second Language for several months.

His first job after college was as a circulation clerk in a medical library, and it was there that realized that libraries would be his lifelong vocation.  He received a Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Maryland in 1988, and went on to become a Systems Librarian, first at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, then later at Middlebury College in Vermont. He retired from Middlebury in 2013 after being offered the opportunity of a 1-year position at the National University of Ireland, Galway, where his work involved helping to digitize the archives of the Abbey Theatre. Galway also provided amazing opportunities to attend many wonderful theater and live music performances, and to re-connect with numerous cousins. 

Mike and Karen enjoyed cooking and gardening together wherever they lived. They also took a number of great trips: Quebec, Ireland, Jamaica, Peru, the Southwest, and Scotland.  He was a lifelong dog-lover and he and Karen were happily “owned” by four Irish Wolfhounds throughout the course of 20 years.

Mike loved attending live theater and listening to live music. He acted in over twenty community theater productions while in Vermont. He liked to sing, usually a capella, usually ballads.  He also had a great sense of humor and loved to tell stories, and he enjoyed throwing the frisbee whenever he could.  

He is survived by his dear wife, friend & companion of over 27 years, Karen Kromer Lynch, of Frederick.  His brothers Kevin (Jamie), Gerry (Marla) & Joe and his sister Margie (Mary Ann) also survive him, as well as numerous nieces & nephews, and his former wife, Lynn McGowan of California.

A celebration of Michaels' life journey will be celebrated at a later date and updated here.