Whenever our paths crossed during my daily walks around the Upper Deck at The Friendly Confines before games, Craig was always very gracious and a complete gentleman with a warm greeting, friendly story, infectious chuckle, and constant smile on his face.  Craig enjoyed life every minute and was a great mentor to all of us on how to constantly cherish everything around us to the fullest!  With Craig there was no disability, only a wealth of overflowing ability!  Craig will be sorely missed by all who knew him and considered him as a true friend.  The world is a much better place because of Craig and everything he unconditionally gave to the rest of us!  God has reserved a special place for you!

Joe Stancato, thank you for being the best friend of Craig and sharing your life with him.  You brought so much love and assistance to each other!

It was the fall of 1984, I came to see the Weber HS football game at Hanson Stadium. It was raining steady so I entered the Press Box at the top of the stands. The game was underway and a gentleman with a gentle but strong voice asked me what just happened. I described the play as I looked towards him. He was blind. 
He asked if I could help with the rest of the game and I said “sure!”. We chatted at halftime, he told me his name is Craig Lynch and that he is a reporter for the Sun-Times. The game ended, he wanted to give me a few dollars for helping, I said no. He asked how he could return the favor and I answered “I would like to do what you do”. Craig said I’ll see what I can do as he took my card with my phone number. A few days later the phone rang and a growling loud voice on the other end mispronounces my last name saying “Craig said that you are a pretty damn good reporter”. That was Taylor Bell, the Dean of prep sports journalism in Chicago. At that moment, I started a several year career covering some amazing games including the first basketball game Simeon HS played following the murder of Ben Wilson. Thank you Craig Lynch, I am forever grateful. You had more than sight, you had vision in gratitude and kindness. 

The photo is of Craig and I watching the CUBS play the L.A. Dodgers  in October of 2017.    That night, I brought him and another friend dinner, we laughed, and talked a lot about life and the CUBS. 
He was the biggest Cubs fan I know.  I am so happy the CUBS finally won a World Series for him in 2016😭 He had many successful accomplishments in his life. 

He had a strong faith in God, and had a great sense of humor.  He endured many challenges in his life being blind.  That did not stop him from living a full and adventurous life of travel, endless baseball games, marriage, service to his church, and being a really great friend to me and countless others.  A brilliant mind, and always knew exactly what day of the week a person was born on when you would tell him your birthday.  I was always impressed by this.  

He always recognized my voice right away, saying, “Hello Miss O’Brien, how are you and how is your mother? It’s good to SEE you!”. I often would pick him up give him rides home from church events.   I always looked forward to those conversations in the car.  
He’d say “You’re a great helper Miss O’Brien.  Thank you for helping me.”  He would  suggest that he could drive us home but we wouldn’t get very far! LOL 😂 hence that great sense of humor, always had a blind joke to share….

We served on a committee at church for years together.  I will miss his presence at those meetings.  I will miss hearing him pray, and watching him read his Bible in Braille- his hands were so fast!

The day Lord called him home it hit me hard.  I know he is in heaven but I will miss him him dearly.  He is with his Savior who he loved and faithfully served.  I am so moved by the reality that he is in GLORY and can SEE His Savior now.  Can you imagine seeing for the first time AND meeting Jesus face to face?! 

Thanks, Craig for being my friend.  You were a bright light in this world. 

Craig was the childhood best friend of my brother Howard Tucker. My memories are mostly when he was a child. Of course he would have responded to this by saying “I may no longer be a child but I’m still immature”. Craig spent a lot of time at our house. We played a lot of cards. Howard and Craig loved to try to terrorize my friends and me.  A famous example is sneaking into my room and resetting my clock radio to blast music from Asia at 1 or 2 in the morning.   As far as neatness, they were polar opposites. My brother knew if you moved anything in his room, even if less than an inch. We would always have to search for Craigs shoes.   When Craig turned 50 we said we would take him to dinner wherever he chose. He picked Billy’s in Oak Lawn. I tried to make reservations and I am sure the workers laughed themselves silly since Billy’s is a fast food place, but Craig loved their ribs. When I told him he had picked a fast food  place, he responded with a big smile, barbecue sauce all over his face and the comment that he could care less about atmosphere.   Craig and my brother are original right field Cubs bleacher bums and had a blast together. I admired their friendship and know that Howard will dearly miss Craig.  Rest In Peace my friend. Say hi to my mom and dad,  and don’t cause too much trouble in heaven. 

Craig, it was a pleasure knowing you all the years that you lived. My best memory of you was when I was able to go to the White Sox/ Dodgers World Series game six in 1959 with my father. You were so jealous because you were unable to go.  We enjoyed our early years in right field bleachers along with LC, Judy, etc.  Be nice to the people up above. Take care, love you and always will. 

 I knew Craig through family gatherings when he was married to my Aunt Ann. He was kind and generous with jokes. He knew the weekday of my birth and would say "its good to be seen." He was a stalwart defender of the Cubs when Sox fan relatives would start in. Craig also knew how to navigate any social gathering to make sure he had complete access to the dessert offerings. He never needed any compatriots to assist, it was just pure skill, green-lighting my own second look at the dessert spread.  

I went to Foreman High School with Craig.  All the tributes completely match the kind of young man he was even then:  funny, intelligent, kind, humble.  Never one to let his blindness define him, Craig was someone you would be proud to call a friend.  My deepest condolences to his family.

Craig was married to my grandmother. I have been a cubs fan my whole life. One year visiting in Chicago craig made one of my dreams come true. I got to watch a cubs game from the press box at Wrigley. Craig was one of the smartest and kindest person I have ever known . 

Craig was one of the most remarkable people I have met in my 79 years on earth.  His brilliant mind replaced his lack of sight.  It was our radio station—WLPO, LaSalle—that procured his Cubs Credentials over many years .  For 40 years I broadcasted many high school and junior college football games.  Craig and I crossed paths many times. There were occasions that I didn’t have a stat-man.  No, I had one sitting at the other end of the press box.  Craig kept stats in his head!  When I learned of his death, my first thought was “Can you imagine what it’s like for Craig?  The brightest colors, the opportunity of having the light of Jesus as his guide, walking around Heaven and talking with loved ones who proceeded him in his forever home.”  To change one word of his favorite scripture: I walk by faith AND by sight!  I look forward to seeing you again, my friend.  Go Cubs!

Craig was an important part of Bethel Church and always had an encouraging word.  This past summer I was sharing about a trip I took to  Haiti  and had technical difficulties that left the room waiting about 20 minutes.  As I felt my stomach sink to my knees, Craig cracked jokes and engaged the audience.  Not only did he teach  my children about the Bible,  (they were fascinated by Braille), but he modelled strength and dignity as a person in living with a disability.  We all take life-long  lessons from Craig.  


I wanted to a share a sweet memory I have with Craig from working with him as a vision rehabilitation therapist.  I remember one day we started chatting about out birthdays. I told him mine, and he then told me the day of the week it landed on, who the Cubs played that day, and who won the game. This was all from a date 26 years ago! I was tickled pink! Craig was a joy to work with, and I'm happy we crossed paths. 

Dear Lynch family 
I am so sorry for your loss 
Emma Rabe 

Craig was a really decent man.  Spent many a night in the stands with him and he was always friendly and professional.  Always had a kind word and his work stands on its own.  Rest easy, Craig.

OBITUARY

Craig Michael Lynch

August 30, 1949 – March 15, 2022

Malec & Sons Funeral Home

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