Peter John Lynch, M.D., the former chair of UC Davis’ Department of Dermatology and a highly respected dermatologist whose life’s work touched countless individuals, passed away in February 2024 at age 87.
Born in 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lynch earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota and completed his residency in dermatology at the University of Michigan. He met his wife, Barbara Ann Lanzi, during his last year of residency. Peter and Barbara married on January 18, 1964. That summer Peter was drafted, and the young couple moved to Fort Benning, Georgia.
In 1968, after completing his time in the Army, Peter and Barbara moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where Peter worked in his father’s dermatology practice. Peter and Barbara then moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Peter joined the University of Michigan dermatology department.
In 1973 Peter was recruited to the University of Arizona to develop the dermatology department. Peter adapted easily to his new western lifestyle. He wore cowboy boots every day to work and attempted to learn Spanish no less than 50 times. The move to the University of Arizona was the start of his academic career in which he thrived, launching him to chair the Department of Dermatology at both the University of Minnesota and UC Davis. He found his love in teaching medical students and mentoring residents.
Peter’s research contributions were vast and influential, garnering recognition both nationally and internationally and contributing significantly to the field of dermatology. His work included numerous published articles and textbooks. In 2013 Peter was awarded the American Academy of Dermatology Pearson Memorial Education Award and was given honorary membership to the American Academy of Dermatology. Fewer than 50 of the 13,000 American dermatologists have been awarded this honor.
Peter is survived by wife Barbara Ann Lynch, daughter Deborah Riddell, son-in-law Ian Riddell, son Timothy Lynch and daughter-in-law Caroline Lynch, grandchildren, Elise and Lawson Riddell and Katherine, Matthew, Sophia, Olivia and Elizabeth Lynch, and his sister Mary Hanranhan. He is preceded in death by his brother Tom Lynch.
The family will hold a private burial and this summer, we will join together to celebrate Peter. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that contributions be made to the Bass Lynch Endowment Fund. The check can be made payable to the UC Davis Foundation, check memo line 114858, and mailed to the UC Davis Foundation at P.O. Box 160186, Sacramento, CA 95816.
Excerpted from content provided by family
