In Memoriam and Tribute: Joseph Lynch, longtime board member
(updated March 21, 2025; originally posted May 3, 2024)
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joseph P. Lynch on March 31, 2024.
UPDATE (March 21, 2025) The Montgomery Bar Association and Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas will hold its annual Memorial Service Friday, March 28, 2025 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Montgomery County Courthouse’s Courtroom A, 2 E. Airy St., Norristown, PA 19401. For details and free registration, please see the MBA website.
Joseph P. Lynch
In Memoriam
LASP is saddened to learn of the death of Joseph P. Lynch, who served on the Board of Directors from its founding in 2001 and continued on the Board until the time of his passing. Joe supported the organization in many important ways. Joe, 86, was born on July 13, 1937 in Conshohocken, passed away on March 31, 2024 in Norristown.
He was admitted to the Montgomery Bar Association in 1965 and received the MBA's Henry Stuckert Miller Community Service Award in 2014, presented to a lawyer who demonstrates unusual devotion to community service in addition to his or her service to the legal community, who does the hard work "in the trenches." Joe served as President of Montgomery County Legal Aid Service (MCLAS) and on the Legal Aid of Southeastern PA Board of Directors since its inception in 2001. He was a Founder Honoree at LASPs 20th anniversary Fête for Justice in May 2022.
Michelle Dempsky, LASP Staff Attorney specializing in landlord tenant law and based in the Norristown Office, shared that Joe presented a landlord-tenant workshop in 2019 and volunteered regularly with the Eviction Prevention and Intervention Coalition (EPIC) from early in the program (2017 or 2018) to around 2021. While he stopped going to hearings when Covid hit, he still participated actively. He was entirely in Judge Hunsicker's Court. Joe was one of the six most active volunteers, and one of the longest running.
Joe passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family. He was the loving husband of Patricia Horstmann Lynch for over 56 years. Joe was born in Conshohocken and graduated from Norwood Academy, St. Joseph’s Prep, Villanova University, and Cleveland-Marshall Law School. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army Reserves.
He loved sailing, skiing, tennis, and working in the yard with his beloved Gravely tractors. He enjoyed time with family and friends, and giving of his time to help others, especially through Legal Aid. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, children, Patricia Quinet (Jonathan), Elizabeth Lynch, Joseph Lynch (Diane), James Lynch, and Ann Munson (Nicholas), and grandchildren Alice, Ignatius, Tressa, Leah, and Rachel, and many nieces, nephews, family, friends, and colleagues. Joe was predeceased by his brothers, James and Peter, and granddaughter, Gwen Munson.
At the staff-board Holiday Reception Dec. 14, 2022 9from left) Catherine Voit (at left), LASP Board President; Shawn Boehringer, Executive Director; Joseph P. Lynch and Milton Vélez, both board members.
Shawn Boehringer (at left); Joseph Lynch; and Erik Hansen, then-Deputy Director for Operations. | Dec. 14, 2024
Joseph Lynch was honored at LASP’s 20+ anniversary celebration, the Fête for Justice.