News

Funeral to be Held for Longtime Mass. Paramedic

Mark Sullivan

12/08/2016

Dec. 08--WORCESTER -- A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Peter's Church, 931 Main St., for John F. Lynch of Auburn, a former paramedic at UMass Memorial Medical Center who devoted himself to teaching others to save lives.

Mr. Lynch died Monday at UMass Memorial Medical Center at age 60.

Mr. Lynch, who was retired from the Emergency Medical Service at UMass Memorial, also served on the regional emergency medical assistance team, as an emergency medical technician at the old Worcester City Hospital, and as an EMT and paramedic examiner for the state.

He was a liver and kidney transplant recipient, in 1984 having contracted hepatitis C when he was bitten by a heroin addict whose life he was saving. The effects of the disease forced him to retire from the job he loved in 1997. Mr. Lynch went on to become a dedicated advocate for organ donation, and in 2003 participated in the Transplant Olympics.

Family and friends remember Mr. Lynch as a generous and giving man who dedicated years of his life to the city of Worcester and served as a mentor to future EMTs and paramedics.

"I've known Paramedic Lynch for close to 30 years and worked many times with him on the street," said John F. Sullivan, deputy chief of operations for the Worcester Fire Department.

"He was the consummate gentleman and a true credit to the city and his profession."

The president of UMass Memorial Medical Center, Patrick Muldoon, said: "On behalf of the caregivers at UMMMC, I send along our condolences to the family of John Lynch. EMTs are important to the community and the hospital team because they are at their best when needed the most."

Mr. Lynch grew up in Worcester's Main South neighborhood, the son of Irish immigrants from County Kerry, and after graduating from Cardinal Cushing Academy in Millbury, went to work as an EMT in Leominster and then at Worcester City Hospital. He was a former president of the Auburn Youth and Family Services and served on the board of Youth Opportunities Upheld Inc.

He leaves four children, Jessica and husband Brian Coleman of Holden, Jeremy Lynch of Oxford, Jaclyn and fiance Kyle Powers of Auburn, and Justin Lynch and his wife, Lindsay, of Holden, along with their mother, Barbara Lynch of Worcester. Mr. Lynch's wife, Nancy Jean (Pollock) Lynch, died in 2004. He also leaves two stepchildren, 11 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Callahan Fay Caswell Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle St., Worcester. Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery, Auburn.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Worcester EMS Relief Association, PO Box 81, Worcester, MA 01613, or to St. John's Food for the Poor Program, 40 Temple St., Worcester, MA 01604.