The Marywood University Community Remembers Edward J. Lynett, Jr.

“Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Marywood University community expresses its deepest sympathies on the recent passing of Edward J. Lynett, Jr., former member of the Board of Trustees, who served with distinction as a trustee from 1973-1979. Ed, along with his grandfather, parents, spouse, siblings, and extended family, made significant, enduring contributions to Marywood.

Indeed, throughout this institution’s history, and even preceding it, the Lynett-Haggerty Family has always been ready to open doors and move Marywood forward. Their family legacy is one that stretches back before the institution’s founding. In 1895, when Marywood was barely a dream, the original deed for the acquisition of land from the Pennsylvania Coal Company to the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, was marked with a certain distinctive feature. The signature of E.J. Lynett, Ed’s grandfather, is boldly written at the bottom of document, the first public affirmation of a community partnership that began in good faith and would continue to grow. This faithful and dedicated relationship has been built on trust and mutual respect throughout four generations of the Lynett-Haggerty Family.

Edward J. Lynett, Sr. served on the President’s Advisory Council, a precursor to the Board of Trustees. When he passed away in 1966, his wife, Jean, served the remainder of her husband’s term. She was the first woman to serve in this capacity and carried on, for both of them, what had become an enduring tradition of service. Ed, following his parents' example, was the first to serve as a Marywood trustee on the Board, as it is formally organized and known today, serving two full terms from 1973-1979. His siblings, extended family, and his beloved wife, Lynda Mulligan Lynett, served in the decades to follow as Marywood trustees, trustee officers, and Board Chairs during their respective tenures. His brother, William R. Lynett, currently serves as a Marywood trustee.

Ed and Lynda also stepped up to proudly co-chair A Bold Heart: the Centennial Campaign for Marywood University. Before that, they, along with other family members, were active leaders in Marywood’s IMPACT 2000 campaign. Various facilities on campus bear the family name and attest to their abiding commitment to Marywood, including the Lynett Board Room, where so many of them have served, and the Lynett-Haggerty Fitness Center. In the former Learning Resources Center, the Lynett Multimedia Room was ahead of its time in design and function. The Lynett-Haggerty Endowment continues to support the academic journeys of students. The Lynett Medal for Academic Distinction in Communication Arts at Marywood, established and endowed by his grandfather, E.J., in memory of his grandmother, Ellen Ruddy Lynett, is awarded each year at Commencement to worthy graduating seniors.

In the long story of Marywood, the Lynett-Haggerty name appears again and again, and Ed carried that heritage of service with humility and steadiness, never seeking the spotlight, only the good of the institutional legacy he inherited from those before him. Those who knew Ed will remember his ready smile, his generous heart, and the way he made every room feel lighter simply by walking into it. Those who did not know him personally will still feel the impact of his life in the strength of the community that he and his family helped shape. His life stands as a testament to kindness, service, and unwavering devotion to Marywood and the Scranton area. We remember and honor not only his years of service, but more than a century of family commitment that he helped carry forward. May his memory be a blessing to all who follow in his footsteps and open doors of opportunity for others to enter.