Thomas G. Lynch III, 67, former principal in Phila.
In the late 1960s, "there was a lot of racial tension at Olney High School," Thomas G. Lynch IV said yesterday. Once, when a fight broke out in the cafeteria, a teacher - his father, Thomas G. III - "stood on a table and separated the racial groups, preventing it from escalating."
In the late 1960s, "there was a lot of racial tension at Olney High School," Thomas G. Lynch IV said yesterday. Once, when a fight broke out in the cafeteria, a teacher - his father, Thomas G. III - "stood on a table and separated the racial groups, preventing it from escalating."
His father, Lynch said, told him that "he took a big risk. He could have lost his job."
Instead, "the principal at the time thought he did a tremendous thing and promoted him to vice principal."
Thomas G. Lynch III, 67, of Gilbertsville, Olney's vice principal from 1968 to 1984, died Oct. 19 of pneumonia at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
After leaving Olney, Mr. Lynch served as principal of Gillespie Junior High from 1984 to 1993 and principal of Martin Luther King Jr. High from 1993 to 1999 before retiring, his son said.
Born in Bridgeton, N.J., Mr. Lynch was an Eagle Scout and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from Cheyney State College in 1965.
After teaching in Cherry Hill for two years, Mr. Lynch began his Philadelphia career teaching mathematics at Olney in 1967.
It was there that he organized a Community Desegregation Resource team which, his son said, "was a result of having the opportunity to calm some of the racial tension" at the school.
Mr. Lynch then continued his education, earning a master's in education from Pennsylvania State University in 1971 and, while continuing his Olney job, completing coursework toward a doctorate.
In 1974, he joined the Philadelphia alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and for two years chaired its Black and White Ball.
With the Boy Scouts, he was vice chairman of the Philadelphia Council's Polaris District.
He was a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.
In addition to his son, Mr. Lynch is survived by his wife, Susan; another son, Scott; stepdaughters Theresa Nahon and Hayley Edwards; four grandchildren; a brother, and five sisters. He is also survived by his former wife, Pamela.
A funeral was Tuesday.