Lynch, Dr. Richard G.

Dr. Richard G. Lynch, an internationally recognized experimental immunologist and former chairman of Pathology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, died at his home on Lake Macbride, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. Lynch, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on April 9, 1934, the son of James and Helen (Henderson) Lynch. He attended Bishop Loughlin High School and Brooklyn College, and also served as a weatherman in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956, where he participated in seven atomic bomb tests in the Marshall Islands at Bikini.

Upon his return, he completed his education at the University of Missouri and the University of Rochester College of Medicine. After a residency in pathology at Barnes Hospital (Washington University) in St Louis, he began his research in tumor immunology, remaining on the faculty as a teacher, clinician and scientific investigator, until 1981.

He came to the University of Iowa in 1981, as chairman of Pathology and held that position until 1999, also serving as Interim Dean of the College of Medicine, from 1993 to 1994. Until his retirement in 2004, he directed a large research laboratory training more than 50 students, fellows and residents, and was appreciated as a teacher, mentor, scholar and friend. He wrote the initial planning grant that resulted in NIH designation of the Holden Cancer Center at the University of Iowa and served as a peer reviewer on numerous study sections at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Alan Rabson, former deputy director of the National Cancer Institute, once stated that he knew of no one else in the country who had given more time to peer review for the NIH than Dr. Lynch. He was president of the American Society for Investigative Pathology and received the Rous-Whipple Award for his research. He served on the board of directors of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

He loved the out of doors, especially birds, and spent much time photographing wildlife and traveling to birding destinations. After retirement, he began to write his memoirs, including his recollections of the Bikini atomic tests, which have been accepted for national publication.

In 1963, Dr. Lynch was married to the former Nancy Underwood in Rochester, N.Y. He is survived by his wife; daughter, Alison Abreu of Iowa City; sons, Brendan (Joan) of North Reading, Mass., and Matthew (Daniale) of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren, Ishadeen Abreu, Joey Abreu, Veronica Abreu and Luis Abreu, all of Iowa City; and a brother, James Lynch, of New Rochelle, N.Y.

A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Macbride Auditorium on the University of Iowa Pentacrest, followed by a reception in Bird Hall of the Natural History Museum.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the Richard G. & Nancy A. Lynch Fellowship at the University of Iowa Foundation or to Iowa City Hospice.

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