Friends of a well known Cheyenne photographer who died in April remembered him as someone who was always willing to help others.
Jim Lynch, 77, died Friday, April 27. He was well known as a photographer and as the founder of a charity to gather coats for needy children, as well as a longtime volunteer for Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Randy Wagner, a fellow photographer and friend of Lynch’s, remembered him as someone who was always willing to help out.
“He’s just (got) a magnetic personality,” he said. “He’s always willing to work, he’s always there, just a great guy. The kind of guy you don’t meet very often, but you’re always glad you did.”
Lynch was responsible for creating “Coats for Kids,” a charity aimed at providing new coats to needy children in Cheyenne. Since it was created, it has put more than 10,000 coats in the hands of children in the city.
Jeff White, who worked with Lynch at Frontier Days and eventually took over the Cheyenne City Council spot once held by Lynch, said the charity was the result of Lynch’s upbringing in Boston.
“He knew what it was like to go without during the winter months,” White said. “It stuck with him and when he had the opportunity to try and do something about it in our community, he did. And he did it very well.”
Lynch served as the personal photographer to former Gov. Mike Sullivan, who commented on Lynch’s sunny disposition.
“Jim Lynch brightened a room with his positivity, his quiet intellect and his hard-to-hide Boston/Irish heritage,” Sullivan said. “He was a gentle giant who was of great help to me, a friend to so many … and Cheyenne and Wyoming are in better places for his presence.”
A memorial service will be held at Cheyenne’s Plains Hotel on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.