In Memory: Patricia L. (Lynch) McDiarmid, Age 68

Dr. Patricia (Lynch) McDiarmid, 68, died peacefully on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at home surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle fighting multiple myeloma. Born in Rye, NY to the late Marshall and Rita (Taylor) Lynch, she was a longtime Wilbraham, MA resident.

Pat was a graduate of Rye Neck High School, class of 1970. A first-generation college-student, she continued her education at Springfield College completing her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1974 and Master of Science in Physical Education, Teaching and Administration in 1983. Pat earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Bridgewater State University in 2003 and went on to earn her Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Johnson and Wales University in 2006.

Pat was a passionate educator for over 45 years and prided herself on being a life-long learner. Pat was a cherished member of the Minnechaug Regional High School faculty, serving for over 25 years as a PE and Health teacher, mentor, coach, and educational consultant. From 2002 to 2016, Pat returned to her alma mater, Springfield College, as an Associate Professor of Health Education, where she earned tenure. Pat finished her career as an Assistant Professor of Health Promotion and Exercise Science at Western Connecticut State University, serving in this role from 2017-2020. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she supervised teacher candidates and groomed thousands of aspiring educators. Furthermore, she was a featured presenter at countless regional and national educational conferences.

Pat was highly involved in the sports of swimming and diving and gymnastics. While working at Minnechaug, Pat was the Varsity Boys and Girls Swimming & Diving coach and Varsity Gymnastics team coach for many years. During her coaching tenure, she won numerous sectional and state titles. Her coaching success led her to be inducted to the Massachusetts Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014. After retiring from coaching, Pat continued contributing to the sports as a swimming and diving official, the Western Massachusetts High School Swimming and Diving Commissioner and the director for the MIAA West-Sectional Championship for many years.

In addition to coaching, Pat was a nationally ranked gymnastics official for over 40 years. Upon her death, she was serving in the role of Massachusetts State Judging Director, a position she was recently re-elected to for a third four-year term. Her involvement in the sport of gymnastics brought her great joy with many noteworthy experiences including serving as an Auxiliary Official at the 2016 Gymnastics Olympic Trials and judging numerous other collegiate and national level competitions. Although she enjoyed the travel, Pat’s favorite meets to judge were local club, YMCA and high school competitions. She also was a certified National Safety Instructor for the sport. Pat volunteered thousands of hours to mentoring new and established gymnasts, coaches and officials.

Of course Pat also enjoyed leisure time with her family and friends. She would commonly be found floating in the backyard pool or lounging on the beach down the Cape at her second home in Pocasset. Pat truly enjoyed watching sunsets over Buzzards Bay and being involved in the PBIA association, especially planning and hosting the annual children’s field day event. An avid Disney fan, some of her favorite vacations were bringing her family and friends to Walt Disney World.

Pat will forever be remembered as a charismatic and dynamic woman. Some will also never forget her well-known original songs and sayings like “what the blazes?”

Patricia is survived by her beloved husband of 35 years Robert F. McDiarmid, their two fabulous daughters: Susan T. McDiarmid and her fiancé David A. Sprowson of North Granby, CT and Jillian R. (McDiarmid) Hogan and her husband Shane F. Hogan of Springfield, two brothers Richard and Marshall Lynch, and several other family members and precious friends, near and far.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Pat’s honor to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at www.themmrf.org in hopes of finding a cure.