Art Lynch, Your Legacy Lives On

"As many of you have heard by now, Art Lynch, actor, acting coach, educator and union activist passed away on Aug. 7. He was 63. I, along with National Board member Steve Dressler, spent many years side by side with Art, championing the causes of our members in Nevada and around the country. We’d like to take a moment to share with you what Art meant to us as a leader and a friend," said Kim Renee, Nevada Local President.

"Art Lynch was a dear and trusted friend. No matter the subject, I knew I could call upon him to give me an answer not based on emotion, but fact. He would research the pros and cons, present both sides and provide solid reasons to be in favor of or against an issue. We agreed on most things and if we didn’t, that was okay too. I knew that our professional and personal relationship would remain intact.  Outside of SAG-AFTRA, our faith connected us. Prior to Art moving to Boulder City, we both attended St. Viator Catholic Church in Las Vegas. During this time, my daughter had a chance to take acting classes with him. She raved about his class and, based on her comments, I knew that his preparation and dedication was similar to what he gave SAG-AFTRA. He will be missed and I send my deepest condolences to his family and friends," added Renee.

"It was Aug. 7, 2018, and it was to be his 63rd birthday. Art left his terrestrial journey only to begin his celestial one. It was a sad day for many who knew him. Art was a true unionist who loved SAG-AFTRA. I served proudly with Art since the ’90s, and we were a good team," recalled Steve Dressler, National Board member. 

"I became a member of the Nevada SAG council in 1991, replacing Council member John Cooley. I met Art when he was seated as a council member, replacing James Zaro at the August 1993 council meeting. In 1994, Art resigned from this position and moved up to be Nevada SAG president. In 1996, he was elected as Nevada’s National Board representative and retained that title until 2016. In 1996, I moved up to become vice president. In 2000, I was elected as Nevada president and held that seat until 2010.

"For many years, we traveled together to the SAG National Board plenaries and sat through days of meetings, which were at times very taxing on the body and mind. Art loved being a National Board member and he represented Nevada very well. We also traveled to different branches for our Regional Branch Division meetings once a year. I would always search out the nearest church and, on Sundays, we would go together to worship the God we loved.

"During those years, Art and I had a good working relationship, and we had hardworking council members to help build and support the Nevada membership. He had excellent knowledge of the governing system of the Guild. In his articles, he emphasized many times the meaning of being a union member.

"Art had a Bachelor of Arts in theater, mass communication, speech and film. In addition, he was a program operations director for the college radio station and worked in both broadcasting and theater in his native Chicago. He continued his studies to receive a Master’s in communications and postgraduate credits in acting, theater, film, public affairs, public administration and union communications, then onto a Ph.D. in education.

"Art loved being a theater and film actor, college teacher, acting coach, broadcast journalist and media professional.

"Art and I worked together as union members, but we also shared the red carpet in the short film Two Roads, in which we shared a courtroom scene.

"Art will be missed, but not forgotten.

"May he rest in peace," said Dressler.

This appeared in the local newsletter.