Ruth Gilmartin Lynch, 105, Dies June 6

Ruth Gilmartin Lynch died on June 6, 2019, surrounded by family, in her Southampton Village home where she had lived for more than 80 years. She was just shy of celebrating her 105th birthday and was one of the oldest residents of Southampton Village.

A native of Southampton, Mrs. Lynch was born on August 10, 1914, to Timothy and Irene Gilmartin at their family home at 71 Hill Street. Her family opened Gilmartin Dairy, with property spanning from their Hill Street home to the Mercator Kendrick house, now known as Cooper Hall, part of the Rogers Memorial Library. She attended Sacred Hearts of Jesus ad Mary elementary school in its opening year and graduated from Southampton High School at 16, having skipped two grades. She was a proud graduate of Trinity College in Washington, D.C., the oldest Catholic women’s college in the United States and was the last surviving member of the Class of ‘35. She earned a teaching certificate at the University of Albany and taught briefly at Southampton High School before marrying James H. Lynch, also a Southampton native, in 1937.

Together, they raised nine children and partnered to run their business, James H. Lynch Inc., later Lynch’s Garden Center, located at 175 North Sea Road. Faith and family were central to her life. A devoted wife and mother, she was the trusted confidante and best friend to her husband and each of their nine children. She created a warm and welcoming home, offering homemade meals to her children, their friends and an ever-widening pool of devoted and grateful fans.

Mrs. Lynch was the oldest continuous parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary where she had received all of her sacraments. In addition, Mrs. Lynch was a fixture at daily mass up until a month before her death, even traveling to St. Rosalie’s in Hampton Bays for the Tuesday noon mass. She was involved in the Altar Rosary Society, the Discussion Club and the LCBA. In 2013, she was the proud recipient of the St. Agnes medal, in recognition of her active faith life and contributions to her church community. As reported in local press at the time, Bishop Murphy made a personal visit to the parish to confer the honor, to a standing ovation. Her greatest legacy is her faith and love of family.

Additionally, Mrs. Lynch and her husband, James, were committed to Catholic education and sent each of their nine children to Sacred Hearts elementary school and helped the Sisters of Mercy establish Mercy High School in Riverhead. Anne, their oldest child, was in the first graduating class at Mercy and has been a Sister of Mercy for 57 years.

Her long life span touched on some of the most historic events of the 20th century. She was born at the start of World War I, attended college in the immediate aftermath of the Great Depression and attended FDR’s first inaugural parade. Her husband was drafted to serve in World War II at the age of 38 and was sent to the Battle of the Bulge. Mrs. Lynch tended the home fires and maintained the family business. Over the ensuing decades, she welcomed changes that brought people closer together, like Skype, while resisting those that hindered communication, like television.

Mrs. Lynch is survived by seven children, Anne Lynch, RSM, James H. Lynch, Jr. (Sharon), Gerald Lynch, Mary Lynch, Barbara (Robert) Tanoff, Terrence (Loretta) Lynch, and Jeanne (Jay) Diesing, and a daughter-in-law Joan (Timothy) Lynch. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and her loving caregiver, Virginia Cruz. She was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, James, their daughter Kathleen, daughter-in-law Patricia (Gerald), and son Timothy. She was also predeceased by her sister, Helen Kelly.

Visitation was held on June 9 at the O’Connell-Rothwell Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was held on June 10 at the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton. Interment followed at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Mercy, 645 Highway 22W

Watchung, NJ 07069; or East End Hospice, Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.