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The 19-year-old was studying to be an entrepreneur when his family says he was hit by a car
TAMPA, Fla. — USF sophomore Connor Lynch’s life turned into a legacy after he was killed near campus.
At just 19-years-old, his mother says he was hit by a car at 42nd street and E Fletcher Avenue February 22nd. Nearly three weeks later she sat down only with 10 Tampa Bay’s Angelina Salcedo
“He was a light. He would just light up the room. You only met him once you felt like you’ve known him forever,” Michelle Lynch said.
Lynch would’ve been 20-years-old this Wednesday. His loss leaves a hole in his family’s heart that no one can fill.
“I had dinner with him the Sunday before he died and he gave me this charm that says ‘Mother forever in my heart’. It’s been horrific. It has been the most awful, gut wrenching thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. I have two sons so he leaves behind his 14 year old brother who looked up to him,” Lynch said.
The sophomore was charismatic, thoughtful and studying to be an entrepreneur. Michelle says he wanted to be his own boss and run his own business. When asked how she knew something was wrong that day, Lynch says an app let her know his location.
“I always checked his life 360 location before I went to bed, just to see if he was in his apartments if he was safe. I noticed he was at the hospital and he didn’t answer when I called. I went and they sat me in a room. We waited for his dad to get there and a team of doctors came down the hall, which was never a good sign. They told me that they tried everything they could and they could, but he didn’t make it,” Lynch said.
Days later his fraternity honored his life with a vigil where hundreds of students lit candles in his memory. They also started a GoFundMe to support his family with funeral costs. His memorial service was Saturday March 9, 2023.
“His Phi Delta Theta fraternity started a GoFundMe and it’s been amazing to see that grow. It’s been growing by 5 and 10 dollar donations and that is powerful. To know that my son was the catalyst for that, it makes me so proud of him even in death,” Lynch said.
The support didn’t stop there, his family found a way to honor his life by helping others.
“He was so passionate about USF and he loved that school so much that we started a legacy fund. The Connor Lynch Legacy Fund is designed to give scholarships to USF students, so that they can go on to live their dreams, the way Connor will never be able to,”
Now Connor’s dreams will live on and his legacy will last a lifetime.
“I would much rather him be here to live out his dreams, but because he’s not, he would be so excited to be able to do this and to know that we’re doing this for him. It’s the least I can do for my son,” Lynch said.
The Legacy Scholarship Fund Connor’s family established in his name continues to grow. If you’d like to donate and support students who want to go to USF you can here.
Michelle says she was told the driver of the car stayed after the accident. Hillsborough County deputies responded to the scene that night. We reached out to them to learn more, but haven’t heard back.
