Marymount Manhattan College Mourns the Passing of Dotty Lynch ‘66

Dotty Lynch

Marymount Manhattan College President Judson Shaver, Ph.D., issued the following statement:

“It was with great sadness that I learned Dotty Lynch, 1966 graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, passed away Monday afternoon. Ms. Lynch was a close friend and supporter of Marymount Manhattan, and a trailblazer for women in politics. She enjoyed a long, fruitful career as a political analyst and pollster and spent 20 years as Political Editor of CBS News. In the 1980s, Ms. Lynch developed the concept of the gender gap, and remained a leading authority on the topic of women in politics. In 1983, she opened Lynch Research, a political polling firm where she was one of the first women pollsters, in a presidential campaign for the Gary Hart presidential race and the Mondale-Ferraro general election.  Her ties to the College were long-lasting and strong; she hosted admitted student receptions at her home in the DC area. As a sociology major, she entered into the world of politics, and often provided guidance and leadership to young MMC graduates looking into similar career fields. We were fortunate to have her return to the Marymount Manhattan campus in 2012 to discuss media, politics and reporting as they applied to that year’s elections with current MMC students and faculty. Throughout her life, both professionally and personally, Ms. Lynch embodied the Marymount Manhattan College Mission, particularly in her commitment in leading to the concern for, participation in, and improvement of society. On behalf of the entire Marymount Manhattan community, we extend our deepest sympathies to her loving husband R. Morgan Downey, her stepson, Robert Downey, and all her extended family and friends.”

Published: August 12, 2014