Lector, maritime lawyer James Lynch dies

James Lynch was an "Abraham Lincoln-George Bailey" kind of guy, his relatives said -- tall and lanky with a commanding presence, and utterly honest and trustworthy.

As a master sergeant, he led American soldiers during brutal combat on the Japanese island of Okinawa during World War II and was among Gen. Douglas MacArthur's troops during the 1944 invasion of Leyte in the Philippines, said Gus Nuzzolese, Lynch's son-in-law.

Lynch went on to become a lawyer and a leader at St. Peter of Alcantara Church in Port Washington, where he was a lector for about 50 years. He died Friday at age 90 at his home in Port Washington.

Lynch "was respected by anyone who met the guy," said Nuzzolese, adding that Lynch reminded him of both Lincoln and the fictional Bailey, the hometown hero portrayed by actor Jimmy Stewart in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life."

During a funeral Mass on Monday, St. Peter was packed with mourners, while seven Roman Catholic priests and a deacon presided.

Lynch was born in Brooklyn. His father was an Irish immigrant and New York City police officer; his mother was a piano teacher. After graduating from St. Michael High School, he obtained a bachelor's from Niagara University, where he majored in political science.

Soon after graduation in 1942, he tried to join the Navy, but was rejected because he was colorblind, said one of his sons, Jay Lynch of Garden City. So the elder Lynch joined the Army instead.

SEE PHOTOSNotable deaths: Long Islanders we recently lost

He eventually ended up in the Philippines, taking part in MacArthur's famous invasion in October 1943, his family said.

By Easter Sunday 1944, he joined in the invasion of Okinawa. The fighting was brutal, and Lynch lost many of the men under his command, including some on Christmas Eve, Jay Lynch said, adding that his father never forgot the fallen soldiers.

"Every Christmas, he would shed a tear for his lost men," Jay Lynch said.

James Lynch was awarded a number of medals for his service, and after the war he attended Fordham Law School. He went on to work for the Manhattan-based firm of Burlingham, Hupper and Kennedy for the next 40 years as a maritime-law trial attorney.

After James Lynch retired at age 70, he and his son opened their own law firm in Mineola, Lynch and Lynch, where the elder Lynch worked until several years ago.

James Lynch also is survived by his wife of 65 years, Kay; four daughters, Barbara Loughlin of Manhattan, Patricia Lynch Gaffney of Manhasset, Anne Dussel of Glen Head and Mary Frances Nuzzolese of Port Washington; and 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.