Building on a Strong Legacy After 35 years, the Carmody family and Gonzaga recently announced that beginning in the Fall of 2020, the Carmody Open would be renamed the Carmody Lynn Open, in honor of both Kevin Carmody ’62 and Michael Lynn ’94.
Closewise from left to right: Aetonian photos of Kevin Carmody ’62 and Michael Lynn ’94; Michael with his son, Noah, on Buchanan Field; This year’s Carmody Lynn Open will be played on October 16 at P.B. Dye and Worthington Manor golf courses.
A
s many Gonzaga alumni and benefactors know, the Carmody Open has been one of Gonzaga’s signature events for over three decades. Spearheaded by John Carmody ’54 and Michael Murray ’62, the tournament was first played in 1984 in loving memory of Kevin Carmody ’62. Kevin Carmody passed away suddenly at age 40 while jogging in his neighborhood, leaving behind a wife and two young children. John and Michael, along with many of Kevin’s friends and classmates, created the golf tournament to raise money for the Kevin W. Carmody ’62 Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition assistance for deserving Gonzaga students without a father
26
gonzaga.org
present in their lives. “We are so proud of and humbled by the generosity of the Gonzaga community over the years,” says John Carmody ’54. “Many young men have been able to attend Gonzaga because of this scholarship fund. It’s a wonderful tribute to Kevin and a way to honor his legacy.” This past year, John and Michael, along with the extended Carmody family, began thinking about opportunities to grow the scholarship fund in Kevin’s name. “This year marked our 35th Carmody Open—an impressive milestone,” says Michael Murray ’62. “We want to ensure that it thrives for another 35 years, and that it continues to bring together Gonzaga alumni and supporters of all generations.”
It was with that in mind that the Carmody family recently announced that they would like to honor another Gonzaga graduate who—like Kevin— passed away at a young age, leaving behind a wife and two small children. A member of the Class of 1994, Mike Lynn’s love of Gonzaga began, as it has for so many, through brotherhood. From the moment he first set foot on campus with his older brothers, Dan ’87 and Kevin ’92, he dreamed of being a Man for Others. During his four years on Eye Street, Mike was a captain of the football team, a stand-out student, and an exuberant participant in Kairos and other service projects. He treated everyone—teachers, coaches, friends, and shy underclassmen—
