Dr. Larry Lynch, professor of business administration, emeritus, passes
October 28, 2020
Dr. Larry Lynch, a professor of business administration for nearly four decades at Roanoke College, died on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Lynch retired from Roanoke College in 2015, along with his wife, Dr. Jan H. Lynch, professor of psychology. Both were granted emeritus status.
Larry Lynch was a versatile and talented educator, as well as a forensic economics consultant and an experienced electrical engineer. He held a B.S. in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech, an MBA from the University of Lynchburg and a Ph.D. in finance, economics and statistics from Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business.
He taught in Roanoke College’s business administration department for 37 years. One of the courses he developed was the unique Student Managed Fund, which empowered students to manage a portion of the College’s endowment — $500,000 — in the stock market. Unlike mock portfolios, students have gained valuable financial experience by researching stocks, managing a portfolio and taking risks while working with real money. Lynch also served as chairman of the Business Administration and Economics department for many years.
For 11 years, Lynch directed The Management Institute, a management education program developed for businesses in the Roanoke Valley to provide educational development for middle- and upper-level managers. Lynch also was involved in the Innovation Challenge, mentored Summer Scholar students, and lectured for the College's Elderscholar program.
Mark and Nancy Gobble, both members of the Class of 1987, created the Larry A. Lynch Endowed Student Scholarship to honor his retirement in 2015. The fund, which has been supported by other students, colleagues and friends of Dr. Lynch, provides financial assistance annually to three outstanding business administration or economics majors concentrating in finance.
Lynch's off-campus activities included serving on the Board of Directors of the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, and as president of the Salem Rotary Club, two of many organizations in which he was involved.
Lynch’s daughter, Kimberly Lynch Cash ‘90, said the family will wait until later to do a memorial service, due to COVID-19. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family via Cash at cash1130@comcast.net.