Thomas F. Lynch of Katy, TX, passed unexpectedly on Sunday, May 26, 2024. He was 84 years old.

Born December 10, 1939, Tom exhibited a toughness and resilience that were hallmarks of his generation. Childhood visits to Jones Beach meant Tom and his friends were swimming in the open Atlantic Ocean—9 years old, no life jackets. He rode his bike through the woods near his home from dawn ’till dusk, unsupervised. Tom learned early how to navigate New York City’s public transportation system. He and his peers would ride the bus throughout Queens, without their parents. As a teenager in the mid-1950s, Tom would take the subway into Manhattan to attend high school—witnessing firsthand the city’s transformation amid post-WWII prosperity.

Tom briefly attended college before entering the workforce. His career in construction would ultimately take him to all five boroughs and some of the city’s most prominent landmarks—including the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

At age 26, Tom survived a collapsed lung and monthlong hospital stay. While he was recovering, his number for the draft was selected. He was declared 4-F. In the decades that followed, Tom never failed to note with gratitude the irony that a collapsed lung saved his life by keeping him out of Vietnam.

Throughout his 20s, Tom was active in the local chapter of the Catholic Youth Organization. It was at a CYO mixer in 1968 that he met Patricia Maurer of Brooklyn. They were married on June 22, 1969. After honeymooning in Virginia, Tom and Pat relocated to the city of Mineola on New York’s Long Island.

They loved entertaining friends at their newly purchased home and fishing the waters off Long Island Sound in their new boat. Tom also volunteered as a Nassau County auxiliary police officer, ultimately achieving the rank of lieutenant. In January 1973, Tom and Pat welcomed their first child, Thomas Jr. A daughter, Tracie, followed in June 1974.

In 1977, Tom’s career brought him to Waco, TX. He purchased a house in nearby Hewitt, where he and Pat raised Thomas, Tracie, and their third child, Cynthia, who was born in October 1979. His position as a supervisor in a manufacturing facility allowed Tom to provide his family with a solid middle-class life.

Tom fell in love with his new home, finding it a refreshing change from the frenetic pace of New York. He took an active role in his children’s activities—fishing club, bowling league, Cub Scouts, Campfire Girls, church, gymnastics, band, dance, ROTC, and more. As always, Tom was tough. And he was giving. Well into his 40s and 50s, he could donate blood through his employer’s quarterly blood drive, then within minutes return to tasks that included lifting heavy parcels. In turn, Tom’s expectations for his kids were high, his tolerance for excuses low, and his praise unbounded.

After four decades in Hewitt, Tom and Pat retired to the village of Rockport north of Corpus Christi. The empty nesters again spent their days fishing and boating, and entertaining friends. They also spoiled their grandchildren with annual trips to the beach, and they worked to help their community recover from 2017’s Category 4 Hurricane Harvey. At age 78, Tom was wading through the neighborhood canals to fetch children’s toys and other items the storm had scattered.

Tom was caregiver to Pat during her two-year battle with lymphoma. After she passed in September 2020, Tom moved to Katy to be closer to his son. Tougher than ever, Tom still mowed his own lawn until the age of 81. In the final years of his life, Tom was regularly driving himself to the grocery store and to run errands throughout Katy. Weeks before his death, he could still make the 40-mile round-trip drive—solo—on the freeway to one of his doctors in Sugar Land.

Tom was determined to live independently as long as possible, and his mind remained sharp until the end. As he had throughout his life, Tom continued looking out for others. In the aftermath of Greater Houston’s May 16, 2024, derecho—a mere 10 days before his passing—Tom found a way to help those around him. When no one else on the block had power or cell phone access, Tom used his Life Alert bracelet to reach emergency dispatch. He then encouraged his neighbors to “come bang on my door—even if it’s 3 a.m.” should they need to call 911.

Recent medical tests were all positive. One specialist suggested Tom could live to be 100. His sudden death, therefore, comes as a shock to everyone who knew him. He will be missed beyond measure. He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter Lynch and Marion Sheehan Lynch; as well as his wife, Patricia Maurer Lynch. He is survived by his son, Thomas Lynch, Jr.; two daughters, Tracie Lynch Quinn and Cynthia Lynch Hokanson; two brothers-in-law, Henry and Charles Maurer; eleven grandchildren, Orion Raschke, Haley Stewart, Katelyn Light, Dorian Lynch, Benjamin Quinn, Dylan Lynch, Dawn Lynch, Logan Hokanson, James Quinn, Hailey Hokanson, and Erik Hokanson; and five great-grandchildren, Easton Vincent, Samantha Raschke, Paisley Raschke, Elias Rosas, and Adelynn Raschke.

Tom never asked anyone to make a big deal about him. He was thrifty and pragmatic to a fault and instructed his loved ones not to have a funeral, believing such services were a waste of time and money. We can best honor his memory by staying tough, working hard, and looking out for each other.

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