Eleanor Gay Sherry Lynch of Bridgehampton Dies February 6

Eleanor Gay Sherry Lynch of Bridgehampton, New York died peacefully at her home, surrounded by family, on February 6, 2025. She was 88 years old. Gay, as she was known, was the daughter of Monzula Elizabeth Gay and George Henry Sherry. She was born October 2, 1936 in Tuscaloosa, AL, the only child of Monzula and George, and a bright shining child from the beginning. She attended Converse College in Spartanburg, SC and later transferred to and graduated from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she worked for a few years at the University’s library, before making the trek north to settle in New York. She attended Columbia University’s School of Library Science and became a fact checker for American Heritage magazine, under esteemed historian David McCullough. She then later transitioned from publishing to education, leveraging her studies at Columbia to become a school librarian for two prestigious New York schools, the Trinity and Buckley Schools. Her keen knowledge of history, culture, and classic Fred Astaire films were lost on none.

Gay and Gerald (Gerry) Weldon Lynch, her husband of 43 years, raised two children—Timothy and Elizabeth—in New York and had a rich full life in the city before retiring full time to Bridgehampton, NY in 2011. Gay was deeply engaged with the Bridgehampton community. Her volunteer efforts included serving a wide range of committees to support the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church (including the creation of The Exchange Thrift Shop), the Bridgehampton Community Food Pantry, The Bridgehampton Association, and The Hampton Library, among others. She worked tirelessly, declaring she was off “to go to work” well into her 80s, always with the gracious charm and tremendous energy and enthusiasm that she brought to all she did.

Gay and Gerry developed a strong attachment to the West of Ireland, building a traditional thatched-roof cottage on the most spectacular plot of land in Doolin, County Clare in 1998. Like their home in Bridgehampton, the cottage was filled with warmth and personality, and a beautiful conservatory from which to watch those “Cecil B. Demille sunsets”, as Gerry would describe them. They built amazing connections to the community in West Clare and hosted many friends and family over the years. Her last of so many international trips were to Draoicht, the Gaelic name given to the cottage, which means ‘a magical place’.

An amazing woman, teacher, wife, and moth-er, she was famous for her Gay Lynch sparkle. It could light up a room, ignite community engagement, and warm everyone around her.

She and her family were much loved by their adoring animals over the years, including Somerset the cat, Muffin the Airedale, Daisy the Miniature Schnauzer, and Beau the Shih-poo. And she tolerated her granddog, Captain the Goldendoodle.

She is predeceased by her husband Gerald (Gerry) Weldon Lynch, to whom she was married for 43 years, and is survived by her children Timothy and Elizabeth Lynch, her son-in-law Bryon Korutz, and her three grand-children – Alice Korutz, Beatrice Korutz and Benen Lynch.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gerald W. Lynch Scholarship Fund at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.