Gerald Thomas Lynch

Gerald Thomas Lynch of Smyrna, Georgia, died March 31, 2012 at WellStar Cobb Hospital, Austell, Georgia at the age of 82. Jerry, as he was known, is survived by his wife of 55 years, Alice Barbara Lynch, and four children:Mark Lynch of Oak Ridge, NC, Keith Lynch of Marietta, GA, Kimberly Najjar of Los Angeles, CA and Patrick Lynch of Smyrna, GA, as well as eleven grandchildren. Jerry was born July 17, 1929 in Bay City, Michigan, the ninth of thirteen children of William and Ina Lynch. Many remember Jerry for his thirteen year career as a major league baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds.For many years he held the record for lifetime pinch-hit home runs – eighteen, until his record was surpassed in 1984.The Cincinnati Reds inducted Jerry into their hall of fame in 1988.After his retirement from baseball in 1966 he and fellow major leaguer Dick Groat bought farm land near Ligonier, Pennsylvania and built Champion Lakes Golf Course.He and Dick operated the golf course together for 21 years.In 1987 Jerry retired from the golf course and moved to the Atlanta area. Jerry was much loved and will be greatly missed. A private memorial service was held in Atlanta on April 8thto celebrate his life. Contributions honoring Jerry’s life can be made to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org or mailed to American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. A memorial website has also been set up to allow friends and family to share their memories of Jerry.The direct link is http://jerry-lynch.last-memories.com