Official Obituary

 RIP Einfahrt

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/dayton-oh/john-lynch-13073341

Shortly after John and I became colleagues in AT&T's PC business in 1994, he invited my wife Gemma (Schlumberger Lady) and me to join the already legendary group known as the "Oktoberfestvisit Festians." This led to countless stories, photos, and great fun through all the years. 

Our business escapades were equally memorable. There is one experience I will never forget: in 1995, we were tasked with closing down the EMEA PC division in Augsburg. During that time, we spent weeks negotiating with an Iranian investor named Mohammed to launch a joint restart of the business. After many meetings and calculations, the deal ultimately fell through. However, John and I thoroughly enjoyed those negotiations—not least because Mohammed always brought generous amounts of top-tier Iranian caviar with him.

Thank you, John. You were not only a great colleague, but also a true friend through all the years.

From Doppleboch

 Some confusion with posting the following from Doppleboch:

I'm not one for taking photos so I'm not sure that I even have any pics that I took of John. When I seach my photos for Lynch, I did get 7 hits but they were all for Lynch-Bages a Bordeaux that John occasionally like to think was named for him.

I first met John in the early 80s about the same time as I met Dave working on 'The Switch' project at NCR.

I'm not sure why so many John stories involve humor at John's expense but that must say something about what a character he was.

I'm not good at story telling but I have fond memories of driving John out to Xenia to make child support payments. At this point I forget why I needed to drive him though I do remember that his cars at the time weren't exactly reliable. I don't remember the order of them, there was the blue Monte Carlo with the empty Mountain Dew bottle across the back floorboard and the Toyota Celica but it all becomes a blur. I do remember that we would stop on the way back and John would buy me lunch at the Asia Palace in Beavercreek. 

There was the humor of the early John and Candy dating years when we were working together at SE Fin and we would find out every Monday morning how his weekend went. After awhile it was decided that he would just put a little flag in the corner of his cube. If the flag was down you knew that the weekend didn't go well and it was best not to ask. I think Candy often had to drive (see above John car reference). One Monday he came in with the story of how Candy just put him out of the car (or he got mad and decided to get out on his own) and he walked home from somewhere out in north Dayton.

I didn't make nearly as many Oktoberfest trips as you guys so I will leave those stories to you. 

Needless to say John was quite the guy who always had a story to tell, or someone telling a story about him.

Hard to belive that he is gone. I'm still struggling to process it all.

What can I say in response to the tragic news about John G. Lynch? I was deeply influenced by Mr. Lynch and held him in the highest regard while working for him in UNIX Product Marketing. John was brilliant and taught me invaluable lessons about business and product marketing that I used throughout my career.

He was funny and always thinking about the next big project. I still laugh about some of his trials and tribulations—especially the time his Porsche burned. I always suspected a dropped cigarette on the floorboard, though the official explanation was an engine gas leak.

I remember one camping trip when the fire burned so hot that, by morning, John had created what looked like the next Dale Chihuly glass sculpture from melted wine bottles. Then there was his golf game: he sprayed Pro V1s around as if they were Top-Flite balls. When I asked, “John, why don’t you use cheaper golf balls?” he replied, “You have to play the part if you want to be a golfer.”

When we traveled together to Oktoberfest, John and I spent countless hours walking and talking. He will be missed more than he could ever know, and I will always carry his memory with me. Rest in peace, John. P.S. Sell your Coca-Cola stock—it’s going to tank when the news gets out.

Some Photo's of recent times:

John Lynch was famous... for a day.

 John was a long time friend,  I met him in 1982,  and we raised a few glasses over the following 44 years.  In my early career,  John was a mentor,  and definite influence,  which guided me away from programming and into the world of Product Marketing.   The most un believable things always occurred with John right in the middle of them.  Many of the memorable ones are humorous,  usually involving drinking, golfing, travel.  A few come to mind:

1. John running over a ball washer at NCR CC, with me riding shotgun.  A few weeks later, George HW Bush used same ball washer, and seemed to comment on the dilapidated/crushed waste can attached to it.

2. John being forever banned from doing laundry at his home.  I guess he washed the family silver,  which had been hidden there by his wife, Candy, in the washing machine.  I heard it was permanent Press cycle. 

3. John being christened Einfahrt for obvious reasons after our first trip,  which included lots of weissbier, sauerkraut, and sausages.  

4. John lending his Posche 911 to some miscreant,  who then proceeded to call into the local radio station, describing said deed.  John was proclaimed Idiot of the Week, by Kent Voss.

5. John being led to the Geldomat in 1993 by Chugger and Barleyman, and withdrawing lots of cash, then immediately lending it to his friends.  (Yes we paid him back). I think that same night he had a tuna fish pizza.  

6. I don't remember the year,  but on our traditional first stop of Oktoberfest trip at Hofbrauhaus,  John dropped his brand new Nikon camera into his mug of beer.  He spent the rest of the trip worrying what Candy was going to say.

7.  And then John became famous.  He made the headlines of the local paper.  Seems some guy with the same name (not the football guy), did something nefarious.  Poor John..  

I am sure there will be more stories as we look back on our times together.  I deeply respected John in many ways,  and enjoyed his company.  My heart goes out to his family, especially Candy, his kids,  and sister Jane.

Raise a Maß orTwo for Einfahrt

Please take this opportunity to honor our good friend and fellow Oktoberfestian, Einfahrt (John Lynch) who passed away early today. We hope he is now pursuing that endless supply of Helles, Lager, Weisbier, Pils, or whatever is available in the Oktoberfest Tent in the sky. Maybe a slice of tuna fish pizza as a side dish.

Einfahrt was one of the original members of our Oktoberfest trips beginning in 1993, and joined most of our trips until right before Covid. I think he just lost interest in the routine. Einfahrt excelled at just about everything; all you had to do was ask him. Primarily, Einfahrt was our go-to-guy for details, especially travel and directions. He had a keen sense of direction, and could always be relied upon for finding the way to somewhere new.  

Future Oktoberfests and our routine bier sessions will never be the same again without Einfahrt. Post your favorite Einfahrt memory about Oktoberfest and our trips to Oktoberfest.