Here’s CBS 2′s report:
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/cyclist.killed.crash.2.661587.html
From Alexis…
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Family Night: please come over to my place tomorrow night (Tuesday, February 26th). This will be in part a place for those who were there during Tour de Chicago this Sunday. It will be a place for us to grieve over the death of Matt Lynch and cope with the shock and aftermath of such a horrible event. It will also be a place to share the positive moments of the race, and remember that Matt was at the head of the pack, winning the race when he passed away.
Please to those who were not there on Sunday, we need you as well. Shoulders to lean on, experience with tragedies past and how you got through them.
I will have a pot of [nearly] vegan chili hot on the stove [it has an accidental splash of chicken broth and a bit of butter in it]. It should be enough to feed about 20 or so. If there’s anything else folks would like to be eating please bring it along.
2438 N. Lawndale Ave
[1/2 block n. of fullerton, 2 blocks west of central park]
3rd floor
lock your bikes to the fence downstairs
.alexis.
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Thank you Luke for finding and providing this information so quickly. From his obituary…
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Visitation will take place on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 7845 North River Road in River Hills, from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM. A service in celebration of Matt’s life will follow at the church at 4:00 PM. Interment will be private. In Matt’s memory, memorials may be made to the YMCA Camp Manito-wish, Box 246, Boulder Junction, WI 54512, or to the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, 9 W. Hubbard ST, Suite 402, Chicago, IL 60610-6545. FEERICK FUNERAL HOME Shorewood (414) 962-8383 Condolences may be sent to: www.feerickfuneralhome.com
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Photos were put together on this flickr page as well as an online guestbook here.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Will there be any fund setup or preferred method of sending a donation to a cause near to Matthew’s family posted here?
Ping me privately or post up here – we would eagerly promote and give back to Matthew’s family in the ways that we can.
Heartfelt Sympathies.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
There is plenty of interest in getting something like that together.
We will be working on delegating the responsibilities appropriately so to avoid disturbing the family too much during this difficult time.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Thank you for writing this beautiful tribute. I found it this morning as I was aimlessly searching for pieces of Matt.
I wish you peace and love,
A heartbroken friend.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Don’t forget to talk to each other.
Certainly, the bulk of the grief has to be borne by Matt’s family. And obviously we as a community are interested in helping them in any way they would have us involved.
But for us, who organized the event, who participated in it, who witnessed a horrible accident, who can’t stop thinking about the chances we’ve taken and the chances we’ve asked others to take, we will all need a little help too.
February 25th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Thank you so much to all of you who have provided a face to my friend Matt’s passion for cycling. I grew up with Matt and know him as a loving, intuitive, brilliant and devoted lover of life. I did not know him as a cyclist, so am happy to hear the stories about your experiences and the positive rewards he reaped through riding the city streets.
Thank you for your lovely thoughts and tributes. I am thrilled you are thinking about a fund to pay tribute to Matt. Please let me know where to contribute (akrupp@tds.net).
For those of us who have been out of touch with Matt for a couple years, could you please share a couple stories of him? It would be greatly appreciated by his friends, and I’m sure by his family as well.
Please be safe!
February 25th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Thank you so, so much for the heartfelt tribute to my brother and best friend. I want to come meet you guys – and hope to hear more. I’m a cyclist myself and Matt and I talked a lot of Td’C strategy. So good to know at least he was at the front of the pack…
People have asked about a tribute: we’re thinking Chicagoland Cycling Federation would be worthy.
February 25th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
My name is Caroline Calvin. I am Ryan Boudreau’s mother. Last night I heard about Matt’s accident on the news and instantly my heart broke. It’s very difficult to write this message here, but I wished to express my deepest condolences to all of you and especially to Matt’s family. I would also like to express my appreciation for you remembering my son. His accident will remain forever the worst day of my life as will Matt’s accident remain the worst day in the lives of his family, and in particular his parent’s lives. Your tribute to Matt is most certainly heartwarming and I can assure you his family needs you today and for many more days to come. If someone has information on a service or address where I may send a card, could someone please let me know? Or post it here? Many people wrote to me about Ryan and many came to his service. It touched my heart deeply to see so many people who’s lives he touched with his smile and his cycling. I too love my bike, though mostly ride for fitness not racing. I don’t live in the city but rather down in a small town southwest of the city. I often ride my bike and speak to Ryan. It’s a special time that’s our time together. I agree it’s very difficult to get back up on your bike when things like this happen. I don’t venture far from home when I do, but I don’t have to go far to find beauty to ride in. What’s important is I remember how much my son loved to ride. How much he loved the wind in his face. How much cycling meant to him. It’s for him I get back up on my bike and ride again. Even though often my heart breaks and the tears stream down my face while I do so. It’s also a time to help soften wounds that will never truly heal. You are right, you honor Matt each time you get back up on your bikes and ride again.
Please know, I and my family will certainly be keeping you and Matt’s family in our hearts and prayers.
Caroline Calvin (Ryan Boudreau’s mother)
February 25th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Thank you for remembering Matt. He was one of our closest friends and it is comforting to read how much he was liked and respected in the cycling community in Chicago.
Caroline, I was sad to learn about your son Ryan. I very much admire your spirit and candor.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I only had a hand full of conversations with Matt, but each time I’d talk to him it seemed that he remembered every detail of our past conversations, no matter how much time had lapsed between them. Though we hardly knew each other it felt like I was talking to one of my oldest friends. Every time I saw him he was smiling and chatty. Even during the few races I did with him, when my legs and lungs would be burning up, he would effortlessly pull along side me and start talking as if we were sitting down having coffee. I’ll never forget Matt and I can’t even begin to imagine the impact this has had on his close friends and family. I’m so sorry for your loss.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Matt and Ryan had a second family here in Chicago because of their talent and joy for cycling. I’m glad if it can bring some comfort to their close friends and family to know that we feel for them.
I want Matt’s family and friends to know what few understand. It is through our incredible community that this news has reached all over the world. Condolences and heartfelt wishes are coming in from London, D.C., Boston, New York, Minneapolis, Wisconsin, the West Coast, San Francisco, all over. People from all over the world have been looking to find out more about Matt and sending their deepest sympathies. Just as these people have not forgotten about our fallen friend and fellow messenger Ryan, the world will never forget the last day that Matt Manger-Lynch got on his bicycle..
February 26th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Matt was one of my very best friends. He was a young chef when we met in New York, and we forged a wonderful friendship that continued despite the distance and passing of time. I am completely heartbroken by this news. My condolences to all of you who knew Matt, especially his wife and family.
Matt lived passionately, and it’s no surprise that he pursued cycling with the same passion that he lived. I know that I speak for us all in saying that there is a void in our lives with his passing. I only wish that I had more of an opportunity to tell him how much I valued his friendship, and how much I truly admired him. I’m so happy to have known him.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I am saddened once again by the sudden and tragic loss of another cyclist who has died while pursuing the joys of the bike. Too many tragic events have happened over the last couple of years for those of us who spend so many hours and miles on the bike not to take a serious look at how we ride. There are risks we all take while riding both recreationally and during various races-both sanctioned and non-sanctioned-for each of us to not take an extra moment to reevaluate the justification and value of the risks to be taken. Whether its a blown stop sign or red light on the road or making an agressive move in a corner during a crit or whatever. Safety on the bike is so important. And the possible trajedy can be so final. We should all have fun and stay competitive, but let us also find a reasonable balance of potential benefit versus possible detriment when we take risks as we venture forth on the bike .
February 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Being a part of the larger cycling community can be daunting. While all cyclists ride for the love of it on some level, negativity can often creep in and threaten the beauty of it as a sport, means of transportation, and a social outlet. I can say, with certainty, that Matt brought nothing but 100% positivity to all bicyclists he encountered. I hardly knew him but could tell this immediately, and it was nothing short of inspirational. This is just one of many reasons why it’s so difficult to deal with this tragic loss to our community.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Experiencing the death of a loved one, or witnessing a death can be the most profound event in someones life. Especially since most the time people pretend that it does not exist. Death has become the great unmentionable. we grieve, lie awake the tears run from us like a constant leaky faucet and then we try like hell to forget.. because it hurts too much.
As was said, no one has to go through this alone. This can be a learning experience. Matt can teach us how to reach out to one another and feel the whole of our tight knit community. We’ve had a horrible reality check.
We are fragile, yes.. but this shouldn’t stop us from doing what we all love. It should achieve the opposite. It should give us strength, courage and awareness to the precious birth we’ve all been given. We all carry the sorrows of yesterday passed and it makes us more compassionate people tomorrow.
It saddens me deeply that Matt had to be taken as soon as he was, but for those who knew and loved him he will be forever with them and never forgotten. Unfortunately I never had the chance to get to know Matt personally.. Though, through the outpour of love and respect I can appreciate what a wonderful person he must have been and it breaks my heart to be writing this, imagining what those truly close to Matt must be feeling. This has touched so many and in a situation where it’s hard to find words, I think everyone should reach within themselves and find some words of comfort or wisdom – anything to show support.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Stricken with the news of Matt’s passing, struggling to write something that may mean something. Luke – I am so sad about your brother’s passing, but was amazed at your post on this site and your obvious sense of pride that Matt was winning the race. Much like Chris, as he was saving a cat from a tree in 95. To the rest of the Manger-Lynch family and especially his wife, my condolences are not nearly enough. Matt was everything that everyone has written and I am better for having known him. He was a Bum & a Fish, true to the core, and he will be missed dearly.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Matt and Company~How thankful I am for these friends I do receive! Matt and I joked about how our road-bikes were almost identical and I took advantage of the may times throughout these last few rides where I found myself tucked behind him, trying to rest and make sense of the world from within his draft. I will miss this luxury.
How much affect we have on each other. I remain reverently, yours. . .
///nico
March 1st, 2008 at 10:43 am
I originally intended to post this on Thursday, but for some reason I paused…
Today, is a beautiful winter Chicago morning – cold so you feel the flush on your cheeks, bright and sunny with a clear blue sky, the light reflecting of the still white snow and waking the downtown area. And I looked around me and realized that I did not see one person on a bicycle, and the sadness that I have felt since Sunday came rushing back to me. It is a morning that I’m sure all of you would want to be on your bike. I admit to being a complete wus when it comes to riding my bike in inclement winter weather. But this morning, even I wished that I was on my bike.
Since the events of Sunday morning, I have, as we all have, felt a great sense of sadness.
It saddens me that a family has experienced an unexpected loss of a loved one; that a community has experienced the loss of one of its members. It saddens me that so many of you witnessed such a horrible accident. It saddens me that we live in a society which allows, even advocates, such gross media sensationalism over a tragedy; in which individuals feel they have the right to step firmly upon a soap box and contribute to banter that is completely inappropriate, insensitive and uninformed about an activity and community of which they know nothing about. It saddens me to think of the possible repercussions this may have on each of you, the tradition of alleycats, the cycling community of Chicago.
I share my life with a man who rides his bike every single day, who looks forward to every alleycat and track race, who is co-building a new cycling team, who experiences so much joy, fulfillment and accomplishment from riding, who cherishes the freedom it brings him and values his relationships and bonds formed with many of you through cycling. And through him, I have had the distinct honor and privilege to meet and come to know many of you and feel to be part of this community.
Do I worry a little every time Stan gets on his bike, do I wait anxiously for him to cross the finish line at the end of every alleycat, do I watch intensely as he rides lap after lap at the velodrome – of course I do – but I would never, ever ask him to stop. Never.
Cycling is what you do. It is part of who you are. On your bike you are able to be the master of your own domain – going where you want, by the path of your choice and by your own power. You are free and fully able to experience your surroundings by your own volition.
But you are also able to enjoy the camaraderie and companionship of your fellow racers and riders, to meet people that you might never meet through the sole shared interest of cycling. I will not sit here and pretend that I knew Matt any more than seeing him at each leg of this year’s Tour, warming up with coffee at our apartment, chatting with him briefly and casually before Sunday’s race. I used to think that those who have the most profound effect on our lives would be people that we know for years, but now I know that people whom we encounter, however remotely or briefly, can have just as a profound effect.
I am not a messenger. I am not an alley cat racer, or a track racer, or even a die-hard bike rider. At best, I am a spectator, a cheerleader, a support team, a leisurely rider on my cruiser bike.
So today, as I walked to work in one of the most beautiful mornings we have had in months, I felt a sense of hope and promise again. My hope is that you will not be so paralyzed by the events of Sunday that you stop riding that you give up something that is so precious and noble. And I know that even I will get back on my bicycle.