45 years of consecutive giving, now anchored by IRA contributions
Capt. Maurice Lynch M.A. ’65, Ph.D. ’72 and Virginia Lynch give to the Batten School & VIMS via qualified charitable distributions
Distinguished emertius professor, Captain Maurice "Mo" Lynch (U.S. Navy, Ret.), and Virginia "Gin" Lynch have centered their lives around service, science and sustained charitable giving, especially to William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS, which they have supported faithfully for more than four decades. From Mo's early days as a Navy UDT/SEAL to his long tenure as a profossor, the Lynch have maintained an unwavering commitment to giving back, freely offering their time, talent and treasure to advance marine research.
After graduation from Harvard and five years of active-duty service in the Navy, Mo earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS. In 1972, he joined the Batten School faculty and served for 30 years in roles including assistant director and head of biological oceanography, associate dean of academic affairs and acting director of development.
"I spent so much of my life there. It means a lot to me," said Mo. "I really liked what I was doing at VIMS — research and teaching — but with a specific goal in mind, which was to essentially focus on the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waters. You always had a mission, which was to understand that place and how to keep it healthy."
While in academia, Mo also spent 26 years continuing to serve and advance in the Navy's reserve ranks, finally retiring at the rank of captain. That same sense of service shaped his family’s giving. "We support VIMS out of thanks for what they gave to us," said Mo. "We're paying it back so that other scientists and students can have support."
Mo first started donating to the Batten School & VIMS as a graduate student. Then, in 1980, Mo and Gin generously began what is now 45 years of uninterrupted giving. "We started by giving small amounts, what we could," said Mo. "Then I was getting promoted, which let us give a little more. I was doing very interesting work at VIMS, so I just felt giving back was a responsibility that had been inculcated in me."
Most recently, the Lynches have made significant contributions through qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from Mo’s individual retirement account (IRA). "I realized that was the best thing to do for us," he said, noting that giving directly from his IRA allowed him to meet his required minimum distribution (RMD) while minimizing his tax burden and maximizing support for the Batten School & VIMS. "I was able to give much more money to VIMS, and it was just a nice way to do it without costing me more in taxes."
Over the years, the Lynches have supported a wide range of programs including the Visitor Center renovation, Hargis Library, the R/V Virginia and CBNERR-VA. Since retirement, Mo has not only supported his alma mater financially, but also with his time and wisdom. "I became a regular volunteer who gave tours, presented lectures and helped on Marine Science Day," he recounted. "I enjoyed that very much."
Though family commitments have limited their volunteer time in recent years, the Lynches remain enthusiastic advocates and donors. "We still give to VIMS because we enjoy being part of the community," said Mo. "I try to keep up with what's going on as much as I can, and there’s still stuff I'd like to do for them. I still feel as though I'm part of VIMS."
Through service, leadership and a lifetime of charitable giving, Mo and Gin Lynch have helped shape the Batten School & VIMS into the institution it is today and continue to support its success for generations to come.