John E. Lynch

I have just started teaching again after a wonderful relaxing and musical summer. I have had two difficult years and there are many reasons why they were difficult. Some reasons were due to my own inadequacies but some due to circumstances beyond my control. I have been moved back to the English Department after five years away. I am determined to make this a good year. I have come up with a few new strategies and two days in seem to be working fine. If you know anything about teaching, on the first days the students are very well behaved. We shall see. Perhaps I will discuss the situation in a later blog. Suffice it to say that we have a forward thinking, seemingly competent, new, young principal. I am teaching in a department that gives me a lot of help and support. It should be a good year.

My real reason for writing today is that next Sunday there is a memorial service for my much beloved Uncle John and Aunt Phyllis. John died in 2001 but Phyllis died just this past February after suffering serious dementia beginning the day John died. The memorial service is in Phyllis's home town of Burnside, Illinois. Unfortunately the beginning of school prevents me from being there. Terry, Phyllis's nephew and my partner in taking care of the trust for these seven years asked me to write a obituary for John. I thought that I might also post it here, as well as having it read at the ceremony.

John Lynch: July 14, 1914- June 12, 2001


I remember…

John was born in Philadelphia, in 1914 oldest of 4 brothers and one sister. Also in the house lived his generous mother, his scrappy father and his Irish grandmother. John dropped out of school at 15, because of his father’s work disability and delivered packages on his bicycle for Adam’s Express.

In 1937, John and three of his friends, Charley Grodson, Bill Winters, and Jim Kelly, rented a studio in downtown Philadelphia at 1109 Walnut Street. The four attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Art, 1937 and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1938 and also took classes at the Barnes Foundation.

John was drafted into the Army in October, 1941. He was an artillery site calculator for the 30th Infantry and entered Europe through Normandy in the D-day invasion. He was an avid sketcher of the French and German countryside. He also painted some watercolors of some of his fellow GI’s. He was one of the first American soldiers to see some of the German Concentration Camps.

John went to Bradley College in Peoria after the war to join a friend, and made many more. He took advantage of the situation in the summer of 1946 when he and Phyllis Pope were the only two of a group left on campus during a vacation.

John and Phyllis, as newly weds, went to San Miguel Mexico on the GI Bill, but had to leave when the U.S. government withdrew funds because of a teacher’s strike.

In 1950 John and Phyllis moved to San Francisco briefly, then rented a home on a creek in Larkspur. A year later John bought a small lot on that same creek, designed and built a house with the help of Phyllis and many other friends.

John continued to draw and paint through the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s while working a “day job” researching land titles for Western Title Company in San Rafael, California. He enjoyed some prominence as a painter in Marin County, as president of the Marin Society of Artists, teacher at the College of Marin and President and Archivist for the Arkites Association. Their little house was for many years the center of the “Boardwalk” celebrations and the place to go for a sympathetic ear, a few jokes, maybe a drink and certainly a good story or two.

Their home was a welcoming refuge for teenagers from the Midwest and East Coast in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Nephew, Ed moved West in the Spring of 1978. Both John and Phyllis were his family, his counselors and the center of every holiday celebration- Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Fourth of July and a few others. They welcomed, always warmly, first a line of girlfriends, then his wife, Donna, his son Truckee, his daughter Anna and his other son, Joey.

I will remember John’s warm welcome, his brilliance, his stories, his jokes and his kindness.

John Lynch died in his sleep on June 12, 2001- the date of his and Phyllis’s 54th wedding anniversary.

May they both be happily remembered.

Narvana, Nervana, Nevana, Nuvanna

Yes, that is my resume for too many years. And no, I will not apologize for neglecting my blog for several months. You are here and you are the first!!! Thank you for arriving.

The American dollar is down, down, down. I give my best wishes to Europeans, Chinese, South Americans and Islanders who are benefiting from the low dollar. Welcome to our primitive civilization on the west side of the bush or east side.

I will indulge myself. After a difficult year with my Sebastopol high school learners, I am taking a little break. Of course, I am reevaluating my approach to teaching. I have decided that the stand off approach to ninth graders is not an effective teaching strategy. I love all of my students but some I love more than others, and Dear Abby...

My summer is immersed in learning opportunities. At the JC I am taking Introduction to Jazz improvisation with 2 teenagers who live within one block of me. I should have done this forty years ago. I am finally learning all of the notes on the guitar, learing Mixolydian, Dorian, phygian modes and more, spending two to three hours a night practicing the guitar and I still feel like the slowest student in the class.

Jazz Camp provided the vocal and band experience I needed. I focused mostly on singing. Madeline Eastman was a dream- always supportive and constructive. Randy Vincent- quiet- sweet and always helpful- was mostly over my head. Julie Kelly let me sing the way I wanted and was insightful and positive. Jaz- assertive, acid, accepting- led our combo. I am grateful for your frankness- and excuse the expression: "East Coast Manner" although he is from Oakland- direct!

Now- Modes of Abstraction with Don Feasel (started Monday- and for me Tuesday) . He is a great man- intelligent, gentle and always kind. I am dumbfounded. He goes through all the painters in the class and finds something very positive about each one. He is a lover of abstraction. And today I brought a few pieces in from my uncle's work. He was almost reverential. I paint little watercolor deviations in abstraction. Don always has a kind word.

Next week I take another week out to go to music camp. My friend, Greg from Portland will join me and we will take challenging Jazz classes in the Redwoods of Sonoma County.

I will join my JC classmates back the next week, having indulged my musical sensibilities.

Resume

Edward J. Lynch

747 High Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472

Home: (707) 823-5458 Work: (510) 824-2367
Email: elynch@analy.org

Artist Webpage (A Tribute to John E. Lynch: 1914- 2001)

Curriculum Guide for Social Studies Survey class (2007- 2008)

Objective:

Teach web skills and computer applications. Teach English. Create web-based curriculum to help teachers teach more effectively. Contribute skills and knowledge to improving education in California high schools. Help pre-service teachers and teachers strengthen curriculum with the tools of technology. Link members of the community to work for higher student achievement.

Education

Sonoma State University, M.A. Teaching and Learning, Specialization in Educational Technology, Summa cum laude, 2004

Sonoma State University, National Board Certification Support Program, 2001- 2002

San Francisco State University, Credential in Secondary Education, 5/88

Niagara University, Niagara, NY, B.A., Magna Cum Laude ; Delta Epsilon Sigma , Honor Society

Credentials

Clear California Credential in English, Social Science and Art (expires 2010).

BITSA support teacher, SDAI Certified.

Experience

1999-present Analy High School, , Sebastopol, CA
Social Studies, Computer Skills, Web page support, English, 9^th& 11^th Grade, Introduced American Social History Project, Journalism Teacher, Production of the Analyan Newspaper

2003- 2004 Sonoma State University, Tech Assistant, Education Technology Support Center

1997-1999 Middle College High School, San Pablo, CA
School to Career Coordinator, American Social History Project, English and Computer Literacy

1993- 1996 Delta High School, El Sobrante, CA (a Necessary Small School)
English, History and Art

1988- 1993 De Anza High School, El Sobrante, CA
Geography, History and Art

1982- 1987 Department of Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA
Purchasing and Accounting,

Some Career Accomplishments

Documenting the Analy Energy Audit, A Guide for Teachers, Green Schools and Lightbridge, Sonoma State University Published at Lightbridge Site: June 2004.

Analy Journalism Program: Converted Newspaper to a total digital production, facilitated new professional journalism connections (2001)

American Social History Project: Pioneered project with college professor that integrated a history American Music curriculum with ASHP's innovative curriculum.

Career Internship Supervisor: Set up and monitored over 300 internships for students. Increased the number
of students internships from a yearly total of 50 to a yearly total of 150 in a school of 250 students. 1/99

Mentor Teacher: Computer Work Place Skills, including Spreadsheet and C.A.D. Prep, 11/95

Grant Writer: Authored successful California School to Career Grant, 1998- 1999 ($10,000); Co-authored successful
State School to Career Grant, 1997and 1998. Wrote a successful: Lockeed/ ISSME Grant for Delta High School, 2/95,
SB1510 Technology Grant for Delta High School, 5/94, PG&E Science & Technology Grant providing physics software
for Delta High School, 10/92, West Contra Costa Educational Fund Grant, 11/93.

Technical Writer: Quantum Corporation, Milpitas, CA for IISME (Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education), Summer, 1993

Teacher of the Year Award: Richmond Unified School District, 5/93

Languages: English (advanced), Latin (advanced), Italian (intermediate), French (intermediate), Russian (beginning)

Workshop Leader:

1999 Studying African American Migrations using Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon; Integrating Literature
and United States History ( Presentation leader with Amy Schwimmer and Terence Elliott) Bay Area
School Reform Collaborative Assembly

1998 Music for non-Musicians in the ASHP Classroom, American Social History Project, Midyear
Conference, Lowell, Mass.

1997 Teaching the Blues, Slavery, Reconstruction and Northern Migration, American Social History Project.

Recent Trainings
2008 Introduction to Jazz Improvisation, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA
2008 Towards No Drug Abuse, TND Training at Sonoma County Office of Education

2007 Painting the Human Figure, Academy of Realist Art, Toronto, Canada

2006 Still Life Workshop, Angel School of Art, Florence, Italy

1999-2001 Technology Leadership Academy (120 hours of portfolio development), SCOE, Santa Rosa, CA

1996-1999 American Social History Project National Conferences

1996 HTML Workshop, West Contra Costa Unified S.D., Richmond, CA

Other Interests

Member of SonomaMarimba Marimba Band playing traditional Zimbabwe music.
Sing and play a variety of stringed musical instruments and musical styles including: Gypsy Jazz; Irish Traditional Music, World Folk Music, Jazz Standards and more. Study and work in traditional Classical Realism drawing and painting.
Active interest in technology, science and politics.

Updated August 22, 2008

Bad Economy Coming or Here?

The Economic downturn has me a bit nervous. Fortunately I have no stock at this time. I heard that Apple computer that was over 200 at New Years is now at $125. I had two hundred shares at $15 a share and sold it at $18 a share. I am torn between buying low or just sitting tight to see if this thing is as serious as it seems. I can see it digging into my retirement at this moment.

The California Lynches at Christmas (click on family photo icon)

I have created an easy to read holiday (read Christmas) letter this year. If you are only interested in certain categories, then scroll to that category. If you are only interested in a certain individual, scroll to that person. If you are a glutton for punishment, read the whole thing.

Donna has created a year round garden that is a wonder to behold. Her new crop this year is broom, our slogan “Sweep your way into people’s hearts.” We are looking at it as our next cottage industry that may bring out of the ranks of the lower middle class. Ed spent two weeks in Toronto studying classical realism at the Academy of Art. Weekly he stares and draws naked people at the local art center. Truckee enjoys the San Francisco social life from the Western Addition and help pull a local non- profit away from the precipice of doom. Anna, a high school senior, goes to school, works in a bakery and sleeps. Joey, a junior, goes to school, plays drums and sleeps.

WORLD OF WORK

Truckee
Film Arts has been a source of worry for eldest son. It seems that the Dot-Com crash and many years of mismanagement have put the non-profit into an even less profitable pickle. The past year has seen numerous layoffs, yet from it all Truckee has managed to finagle a four day work week with his previous five day salary. Bravo! These tribulations may set the stage for Truckee’s next jump on the career ladder.

Anna
Has jumped into the work world of her dreams full tilt or (I should say) full tort. She has gone from cashier to kitchen pie baker. So much so that she saved Thanksgiving at Village Bakery when the chief pastry chef was out, making and baking over 150 pies in one evening and early morning. The fringe benefits to the family can be seen in our Christmas photo. Note the “love handles.”

Joey
Insists that his work is practicing the drums. He also has a Monday night dish date at our house. If one considers it work(he does), he plays in both Band and Orchestra at Analy, runs cross country and track and practices with his band on weekends.

Donna
Is no doubt the favorite nurse at Juvenile Hall. She is on to the con games of the young inmates but mostly brings home tales of their innocence and sweetness. The competent staff is another story. Although Donna works with some very skilled people, the county continues to send an array of competent nurses who quickly leave because of the weekend scheduling or incompetent nurses who won’t leave, at least not voluntarily.

Ed
After teaching the notorious class of 2010 for two years in a row, Ed opted for a fresh group of (what else) freshmen. He is using his computer skill to bring curriculum into the twentieth century. Check out: sssurveyatanaly.pbwiki.com – put a /Period-2 next to that for a very special project. Students will have to wait for the twenty first century.

OTHER INTERESTS

Truckee
continues to do some art direction on local films and is pursuing an avid interest in technical gadgets. He maintains an interest in all kinds of science, especially astronomy. He energetically embraces the active social life of a twenty- something in San Francisco. What did I hear about a fondue-absinth party?

Anna
Is baking, baking, baking. She remains tied to her cell phone and friends in Alaska. In her heart she want to be a part of the family band. She is organizing her jazz standards and developing a set list at this very moment. Michael Bublé is her latest heart-throb.

Joey
Is the consummate online composer of techno music. He performed solo at the Analy Talent Show this year playing the dumbek and the didgeridoo. You can find the video on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUAXb-zsIVI

Donna
Sunset magazine provided a winter inspiration for Donna this year. Color photocopies of fall leave, cut and mounted. They almost made their way into our Christmas card- which I am sure that you have not received yet. Donna also led an evening of egg decorating.

Ed
Has begun taking Russian at the Junior College on Monday evenings with the hope of soon traveling to Russia and eastern Europe. Unfortunately the stars and the monetary exchange rate are not lining up in his favor. A few things on the back burner that might pan out are a trip to Greece with some high school students or perhaps a trip to Normandy with father-in-law, Bill.


MUSIC

Truckee
Since Lark in the Morning Music Camp Truckee has been practicing fiddle. He also puts an hour a day into practicing guitar. He looks forward to going to Lark next year and taking Sylvia Herrold’s advanced swing guitar workshop.

Anna
Even though she still possesses the voice of an angel and rumor has it she sings in the shower when no one is home, Anna still is hiding her musical gifts under a bushel basket. There was one a rumor she wanted to play the fiddle, but only a rumor.

Joey
At this very moment I hear a double base peddle vibrating on the ceiling above me. Joey has had three variations of his metal group. Paul, the longest running bassist, has given his weekends over to his studies. There was a brief interlude with young woman playing bass and now Harley has stepped in as the new bassist. Eric and Joey are the two consistent members.

Donna
Is the name Malichenka or Rasbutti? Donna’s Balkin trio with Elan and Tabitha continues to sound better and better. We hope that the gifts of Christmas will add a rhythm section to the “What’s its name?” Trio. And Tabitha marriage to Davide has brought us closer to West African musicians in the area, a musical treat.

Ed
Marimba Sebastopol, Sebastopol Marimba, SoCoMarimba, Sonomarimba and finally Sonoma Marimba, Zimbabwe Marimba group has a solid 6 and sometimes 7 who practice weekly and have performed a couple of fun gigs this year (Sonoma County Wood Workers, First Night: Downtown Santa Rosa and a Mega-Party on the outskirts of Petaluma. Looking for volunteers who like heavy lifting.

A great workshop at Lark Camp has further driven my interest in playing gypsy jazz. The only thing that is needed now is more practice time.

THE FUTURE

Truckee
In the coming year we probably will see Truckee change jobs, he hope in some area that is more hands on, technical and perhaps electronic. This kid is going places.

Anna
The CIA may be in Anna’s future. Don’t worry. The Culinary Institute of America is one of the best culinary schools in the United States, located in the former Christian Brothers Winery in Saint Helena, Napa County. The second possibility is the attending the University of Alaska in Anchorage.

Joey
Is getting more serious about school and in the next year he will probably apply to a number of UC’s and State schools. He has been drumming sans teacher for about six months now and has expressed an interest in getting a new drum teacher and expanding his musical horizons.

Donna
Will probably stay in her present work position for the next year but not forever. We look at the maybe getting some kind of work overseas.

Ed
Has decided to continue at Analy and teach the same subject for two years in a row for a change. He is working on getting some dynamic curriculum on line. He also looks forward to using the web to promote some of his artistic and musical interests.

Monterrey Technology Conference

I am excited about teaching again। I just came back from a technology and education conference. I am seeing how the tools of the Internet can open up the world for a student. We are now studying India. I am planning that students lead tours through different parts of India using the tools of Google Earth. Students will also take our old dull dry text book and make it their own. They will enter hypertext and perhaps reword the text itself- infuse it with pictures and movies.

Already -- November 28. And I missed October. Here I am now. Now. Oh no, it is almost tomorrow. But I have captured November in time. This teacher beseiged by students, parents, papers and the evil principal. I will tell all in my upcomming book.