John “Jack” Smart Lynd

September 16, 1929 - September 2, 2018

John “Jack” Smart Lynd, son to Major General William E. and Dotha Farson Lynd passed away quietly in Los Altos surrounded by his family. As son of an Air Force officer, Jack had lived in, or visited, all 48 states by the time he graduated high school. He attended Sidwell Friends School in D.C. and Lowell High School in San Francisco 1944 – 1948 where he was Student Body Officer and starting quarterback. Jack graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Architecture. He served as president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.

On June 20, 1952, Jack received his Lieutenant’s Commission from his father, attended his Cal commencement ceremonies and married his high school & college sweetheart, Marilyn Hamlyn. Jack served in the Air Force from 1952 to 1954 and was stationed in Munich.

Jack and Marilyn then settled in Palo Alto where they raised 3 children Kevan, Dayna and Stacy. Marilyn passed away in 1973. Jack married Jane Butterfield Pringle, mother of Stewart and Douglas in 1974. The Lynd and Pringle families had been friends for many years before the untimely deaths of Ralph Pringle and Marilyn Lynd.

Jack’s career as an architect began as the only full time employee of the Stanford University Planning Department. He became Associate Director and was involved with the tremendous growth of the campus from 1954 to 1969. This included the development of White Memorial Plaza and surrounding buildings, Stanford Medical Center by Edward Durell Stone, Meyer Undergraduate Library, Stanford Linear Accelerator, Stanford Radio Telescope “Dish”, Stanford Industrial Park, Block Auditorium “Physics Tank”, Maples Pavilion, Graduate Business School South.

Jack later became Vice President of Ernest J. Kump Associates of Palo Alto, then Senior Vice President and Director of the San Francisco office of John Carl Warnecke and Associates, the largest architectural firm in the nation at the time. He later partnered with Dale Sprankle and Bob Sprague to form Sprankle, Lynd & Sprague. He left in 1989 and consulted for a few years before retiring in 1992. Some of his memorable projects after his Stanford years include Ventura County Courthouse, State Farm Insurance Building, San Francisco Airport North Terminal, Stanford Hoover Tower Addition, California School for the Deaf, Greenfield Community College (Massachusetts), Hennepin County Government Center, (Minneapolis), San Joaquin Delta College, Bendigo College (Australia), and Jupiter Hotel & Casino (Australia). He also designed and remodeled numerous private family homes.

Jack was perhaps most proud of the successful union of the two widowed families including many traditional family gatherings. He made many close, lasting friendships at Lowell High School, his SAE fraternity, throughout his career and during his two very happy marriages. He continued to attend Stanford Planning meetings and collaborate with Palo Alto architects into his final year. He was an avid yachtsman, traveler and athlete, often shooting his age on the golf course well into his 80’s with his fellow Sons In Retirement. Following Jane’s passing in 2015, Jack continued to enjoy numerous family gatherings, including a recent trip to Ireland, his grandchildren’s sporting events and his many close friends. Jack is predeceased by his wives, his brother Bill and wife Celia. He is survived by five children, Kevan Lynd (Lynne Knox) of Los Angeles; Dayna Lynd-Pugh (Steve) of Gilroy; Stewart Pringle of San Francisco; Douglas Pringle of Capitola; Stacy Reitmeir (Jeff) of Los Altos. By six grandchildren, Ashley Pugh Cannon (Bobby) and Kelly Pugh, Kelsey & Rachel Lynd, Eric & Curtis Reitmeir, and three great-grandchildren, McCoy, Ryder & Mason Cannon. By cousin Bob Lynd (Nancy) of New Mexico.

Private Family services to be held at Alta Mesa Funeral Home & Cemetery, officiated by Dr. Sam Earp. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity. Notes and condolences may be posted to www.altamesafuneralhome.com.