Charles Lynch Memorial Scholarship

Provide scholarship opportunities to students in fields related to Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning. This scholarship is in memory of Charles Lynch, ASHRAE Rochester president (1973-1974) and advocate for HVAC-R careers.
Please make your memorial gift online at Give Now. If you wish to make a gift by phone, please call 585.685.6020 or mailing a check to the MCC Foundation, 1000 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623.

Charles E. Lynch, PE, was the eighteenth president of the Rochester Chapter of ASHRAE (the current president, Matt Kremers is #65). In 1976, Chuck was a well-respected, up-and-coming Senior Engineer in RG&E’s Commercial-Industrial Marketing Dept. His responsibilities included growing/maintaining the utility’s relationships with approximately $35M (annual revenue) of its larger industrial customers. Chuck’s expertise in electric & gas HVAC came from his two college degrees (Alfred Univ. ’52 and Purdue ’60) and, in between, four years’ experience as a US Navy machinist’s mate on a Gearing-class destroyer (USS Larson, DD-830).
Chuck was a native Western New Yorker. Born & raised in Hamlin, NY, he graduated from Brockport HS (class of ’50) and went on to Alfred Tech for an AAS degree in heating and refrigeration (’52). With the Korean War underway (and another “draft” happening), he took control of his future by lending his recently-acquired skills in HVAC to the US Navy. Following his four years of military service, his growing interest in applied technology led him to apply/enroll/graduate from Purdue University with a BSME (’60). Summer jobs in the 1950’s at Haloid-Xerox allowed him to survey employment opportunities in Rochester, NY, eventually joining RG&E as a Marketing Engineer, in 1961.
A bit more “worldly” than other engineers (based on his military and collegiate experiences), Chuck was particularly attracted to bright young women. He met Connie while she was a student at Brockport State (SUNY Brockport), on her way to becoming an elementary school teacher. They became another “engineer/school teacher” combination, a classic of that time. They soon had a family; Stephen and Cynthia.
An ASHRAE Member, just a few years into his career at RG&E, Chuck “entered the chairs”, becoming Treasurer of the ASHRAE-Rochester Chapter in 1969 (its twelfth year), ascending to the Presidency in 1973-74. Chuck was one of the younger chapter presidents and, according to those who knew him well, one who brought new ideas and a refreshing spirit to the organization.
In many respects Chuck was a typical engineer; well-prepared for the challenges of local industry, diverse in his interests (Toastmasters International, RG&E bowling league, and a family man (family camping, canoeing, YMCA Indian Guides).
However, to many of his peers, Chuck was a special friend. Experienced in his field, he was especially appreciated for his maturity and patience with customers and also with the other engineers. His contributions to the field of HVAC applied technology had only just begun with his leadership in ASHRAE.
Relatively young (44 years) when an incurable illness suddenly took him from us, the members and friends of the ASHRAE–Rochester Chapter wanted to find a lasting way to memorialize Chuck and what he represented to them.
So, in 1976, a scholarship fund was established, in his memory, to support young students who were seeking careers in the field of HVAC technologies. This fund continues to this day, as testament to the importance of “celebrating” the contributions, small and large, that engineers make to their work, and to the people around them.