[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 114 (Tuesday, September 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    STATEMENT IN HONOR OF PAT LYNCH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 21, 2004

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Virginia Summers 
Lynch, known to her family and friends as ``Pat,'' who passed away on 
August 1, 2004. Involved in politics and in her community, Pat's 
boundless energy and enthusiasm were an inspiration to all who knew 
her. She epitomized the best of San Francisco.
  Pat was a fifth-generation Californian and a descendent of Spanish 
colonists who settled in the Monterey area in the 18th century. She 
spent her childhood in the San Simeon area and then attended UC 
Berkeley where she met her future husband, a law student from San 
Francisco named Thomas Lynch. They settled in San Francisco and 
remained happily married until his death in 1986. Together, they had 
two wonderful sons whom she loved dearly.
  Pat was actively involved in San Francisco's civic life. She was a 
founding member of JACKIE, a foster childcare organization, and she 
served as President of the Democratic Women of the San Francisco Bay 
Area. Pat was on the boards of directors for many organizations, 
including the Humane Society of San Francisco and the Humane Society of 
United States.
  Pat played an integral part in her husband's demanding legal career. 
Thomas Lynch served as San Francisco's District Attorney and was later 
appointed by Governor Pat Brown to be California's Attorney General. 
Pat's support was crucial to her husband's success.
  Loved and admired by her friends, one of Pat's most celebrated 
friendships was with the San Francisco Chronicle's famed columnist Herb 
Caen. Pat was the source of many of his items and was frequently 
mentioned in his column.
  We thank her sons, Kevin and Michael, for sharing their magnificent 
mother with us. I hope it is a comfort to them that so many people 
share their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.

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