Thomas F. Lynch

Princeton - Thomas Francis Lynch of Princeton passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on December 26, 2022. Beloved husband of the late Joan (McQuade) Lynch. Loving father of three sons, Daniel Lynch and his wife Kimberly (Rose) Lynch, James Lynch and his wife Christine (Foresteire) Lynch and Bryan Lynch; two daughters, Kathleen (Lynch) McInerney and her husband Sean, Pat (Lynch) Little and her husband Kevin. He is also survived by his brother Rev. Edward Lynch, seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter: nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his sister Patricia (Lynch) Moylan and her husband Joseph Moylan; two brothers; Honorable J. Albert Lynch and his wife Mildred (Sullivan) Lynch, Arthur Lynch and his wife Greta (Locke) Lynch.

Tom was born and raised in Lowell, the son of Edward J. and Maria F. Lynch and lived in Leominster before moving to Princeton in 1958. Tom has been a member of the Prince of Peace Parish since its opening in 1959.

Tom, a graduate of Keith Academy in 1943, served in the Navy in World War II after which he graduated from Yale University in 1947 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Botany. He obtained the degree of Master of Forestry in 1949 at the same university. Tom served in various parts of the country with the U.S. Forest Service and since 1951 he served in Massachusetts with the Division of State Forests and Parks in Essex County,

In the 1960's Tom was overseeing the site development and helped build a ski area complex with 3 other partners on Mount Watatic in north central Mass (he learned to ski in the 1930's). In the late 1960's through the 1990's he held various positions as Regional Forest and Parks Supervisor, Deputy Director Parks and Recreation, Deputy Commissioner for Field Operations with Department of Environmental Management (DEM). Tom retired from DEM after 40 great years in the service of the commonwealth.

In Tom's retirement he continued to enjoy many Forestry and environmental-related projects such as the Audubon Society and Siena Club. Tom was on the Wachusett Mountain Advisory Committee, the Princeton Road Advisory Committee and Conservation Commission. Tom enjoyed 50 + years of cordwood cutting for home use (5 cds/yr.). Tom has lived in Princeton since 1958. In 2008 Tom was chosen to receive the Princeton Outstanding Citizen award for being a devoted servant to the town of Princeton. Tom was praised for his many years of quiet but effective service to the community and they called him Princeton's own Johnny Appleseed, referring to Mr. Lynch's longtime efforts to save the old-growth forest on Mount Wachusett, as well as the stately trees of roadsides around town. During Tom's retirement, he was quoted saying, "Slowly I'm getting the message, while in the Lord's waiting room: "Spend more quality time with family and friends."

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at the Prince of Peace Parish, 1 Mountain Road, Princeton, MA. Burial at the Woodland Cemetery, Princeton, MA will be private in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Prince of Peace Parish. Arrangements are under the care of Miles-Sterling Funeral Home & Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Rd., Sterling. To share a memory or offer an online condolence visit the "Tribute Wall" on this page.