Max Lynn

Max Lynn was born January 1st, 1935 in Winchester, Kansas and passed away on November 15th, 2017 in Santa Barbara. Max was a prime example of American drive and determination as he was born on a small farm in Kansas and ended up working on the Apollo project that landed man on the moon!

Max graduated from the University of Kansas in 1955 and married his first wife Shirley in September 1955. Then began their life of adventure and travel, as Max moved several times around the US with the Air Force. Their only child Max David Lynn was born in 1958 and died in 2006.

In 1960 after his discharge from the Air Force, Max began his engineering career with AC Spark Plugs, a division of General Motors that was later bought by Delco. They Lynns lived in several places around the country during his Delco career. It was while living in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes that the Lynns learned how to sail and began a lifelong love of sailboat racing. Max was a great sailor and raced throughout his life, winning innumerable awards and honors. His last race was 2 months before he died when his boat took a third place in a SB Yacht Club race. Max was a true yachtsman. He mentored many people throughout the years, and to be crew on the Lynns’ boats was truly an honor.

The Lynns moved to CA in the late 60’s when many Delco employees were transferred from Wisconsin. From 1968-1972 Max worked on the lunar landing project Apollo. Through the years Max had three sailboats who he named “Tranquility”—from the name of the craft that landed on the moon. In 1975 Max worked with the Russians on the first manned space station, Soyuz.

Max and Shirley joined the Santa Barbara Yacht Club in 1973 and he became Commodore in 1979. They spent many hours sailing, racing and enjoying the companionship of their Yacht Club friends. Max had a record 43 Santa Barbara-King Harbor races, dating from 1974-2017—doing all but the very first one!

After his retirement from Delco he and Shirley traveled the world. They particularly enjoyed delivering boats to new owners or locations. Shirley passed away in 2013.

In 2015 he was introduced to his second wife Patricia. They had a wonderful 2-1/2 years together. They did several major trips together, enjoyed their friends and Pat never missed sailing with Max.

In addition to being an accomplished yachtsman Max was a true gentleman-kind, wise and a loyal friend. He was always available to help anyone who needed it. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife Patricia, stepson Seldon Del Giorgio (Shania) and their sons AJ and Joey.

A celebration of Max’s life will be held at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club on Thursday, January 18th at 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity, the SB Youth Sailing Foundation or the Cancer Foundation of SB.