Thomas G. Lynch, 94, of Oak Park, died on Nov. 7, 2024. Born on April 1, 1930 in Galesburg, Illinois, he served as a sergeant in the Army, stationed at Camp Gordon in Georgia from 1952 to 1954. He attended Quigley Seminary and received his B.S. from Loyola and MBA from the University of Chicago. A career banker, he started in his teens as a runner. Later he managed the bank’s transition to a computerized banking system, and eventually served as bank president. In retirement he returned to community service, lending his financial and management counsel to the Oak Park Tourism Bureau. A community activist, he served on the District 200 school board and as board president for Oak Park and River Forest High School.
His church family referred to him as a father, husband, friend, tenor, lector, liturgy music coordinator, humanitarian, Bazaar MC, encourager, comedian, writer and columnist. An avid fan of the Chicago White Sox and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, he often showed up in the op-ed section of the paper (including Wednesday Journal) in response to political topics, always from the perspective of unity and individual rights. A lover of all performing arts, his true passion was opera. The heavenly choir is blessed with his tenor voice.
Tom was the husband of the late Mary Kay; the father of Tom Jr. (BethAnn), Cathy (Jeff Adams), Rosemary (the late Jim Murphy), Edward, Dan (Kristye) and Patty (Randy) Raikes; the grandfather of Caitlin (Andy) Cuthbertson, Michael (Michelle) and Anna Lynch, Alec DeSantiago, and Morgan, Ryan and Dylan Raikes; great-grandfather of Chloe, Skylar and Logan Cuthbertson; and brother of the late William G., (the late Marcy) and the late John V. (the late Joan).
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Catherine/St Lucy Church, 38 N. Austin Blvd., Oak Park on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 at 11 a.m. with a gathering in the back of the church at 10 a.m. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Catherine/St. Lucy Church, the Alzheimer’s Association, or the National Endowment for the Arts.