Belmar St. Patrick's Parade's Jerry Lynch Dies Of Coronavirus

BELMAR – Jerry Lynch, the founder of the Belmar St. Patrick's Day Parade, has died because of the coronavirus, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Wednesday. He was 91.

Murphy said Lynch "was a Belmar icon" as the founder of perhaps the most popular St. Patrick's Day parade in New Jersey.

Lynch was also the owner of the Lynch’s Hotel.

"He gave himself, fully, to his community, serving on the Belmar Board of Education and as president of the Kiwanis Club," Murphy said.

Lynch died on Monday at Jersey Shore Medical Center due to coronavirus complications, according to his obituary from the O'Brien Funeral Home.

Lynch was born in Bayonne in 1925 to Jeremiah and Mary Driscoll Lynch. From an early age, he developed a reputation as an exceptional singer, and he would go on to be regarded as one of the great tenors in the state of New Jersey, known for singing show music, sacred hymns, and Irish songs, according to his obituary.

As a young man Jerry sang on Broadway, most prominently as a member of the 1951 production cast of “Where’s Charley?” starring Ray Bolger; fittingly, Jerry played a singer, his obituary said.

After some years on tour Jerry grew weary of the road and returned to New Jersey and worked for Western Electric Co. in Kearny, the obituary said.

Lynch soon met the love of his life, Frances Largey. They married on November 22, 1958; as Fran is fond of saying, “Sure, ‘twas a match made in heaven!” his obituary said.

In 1963, Lynch opened Jerry Lynch’s Hotel in Belmar which would become one of the great Jersey Shore summer bars and entertainment venues over the course of its 20 years of operation, the obituary said. Jerry would also own and operate the Erin Hotel, and was also partner in Steve Gepp’s Pub.

Lynch also served on the Board Education in Belmar for 12 years. He joined the Belmar Kiwanis Club and served as its president, his obituary said.

In the later 1960s Jerry was among the key figures in forming the Jersey Shore Summer Basketball League, with his team winning the first 6 league championships, the obituary said.

"What made Jerry most proud was his role in establishing what is now known as the Belmar-Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade, first held in 1974," his obituary said. "For as long as his health would allow Jerry marched annually wearing his 'founder' sash as the parade continued to grow into one of the largest and best attended parades in the state."

A memorial mass will be held at St. Rose’s Church, Belmar at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Rose Grammar School, 605 6th Avenue, Belmar, NJ, 07719. O'Brien Funeral Home, Wall Township is in charge of the arrangements.

To offer condolences please visit www.OBrienFuneralHome.com.