Lynam’s passion remembered
Trending
Frank Sinatra, Arnold Palmer, Presidents Truman and Eisenhower -- all came under the sharp focus of newspaper photographer Thomas C. Lynam, who discovered his lifelong passion in childhood when an aunt took a family photo and shared the prints.
"Cameras were a rarity back then," said his son Mark Lynam, 55, of Altoona. "But from then on, he was fascinated. … You could always tell when he had taken a photo. He was very conscious of the subject matter, where the sun was in the sky and where the light fell. He was very good at it."
Known as Tom, Lynam, 97, died Jan. 30 and is being remembered by local historians and fellow newsmen for capturing all facets of Altoona life. The family is also mourning the death of Tom's son, Peter Lynam, who died Jan. 24. A joint visitation and and funeral Mass is planned for Tuesday.
"(Tom) was a really nice guy and very serious," said former photographer/videographer Larry Field, 81, of Altoona. "I remember he carried an old 4-by-5 film camera. It was the best that they had at the time and it was heavy."
As Altoona Tribune newspaper delivery boy, Field met Lynam who worked as a freelance photographer.
"He was serious all the time. But he was one guy that made you feel good when you talked with him because when I had a question, he'd give me a good, straight answer even though I was a kid," Field said.
Local historian and author Jared Frederick interviewed Lynam about a decade ago when he was researching the notorious wreck of the PRR's Red Arrow passenger train. Lynam and his brother walked through dark woods to the site and were among the first on the scene.
His father sold his photos to the Associated Press, who flew an airplane to Altoona to retrieve the images, Mark Lynam said.
"He's a figure that's larger than life," Frederick said. "He witnessed and documented such an important chapter in Altoona history and the evolution of the city between 1940 and 1960 when the city was in transition as the steam locomotive industry declined and the city had to reinvent itself. His work is a visual time capsule and is to be cherished. He chronicled all of it -- the good, the bad and the ugly."
Among the good, Arnold Palmer's 1959 participation at a golf tournament at Park Hills Golf club, and whistle-stop train station visits by Truman and Eisenhower.
Among the more comedic photos: former Coast Guard service dog Thor receiving a treat from a waitress. Thor was well-known for riding trolley cars and stopping at restaurants -- without his owner, Robert Eiche of Penn State Altoona prominence.
"The boxer came home to a hero's welcome and the mayor issued a proclamation of appreciation that entitled the dog to ride the city trolley cars and receive free table scraps from area eateries," Frederick explained. "Tom captured a slice of Altoona life," he said, and had an ability "to capture people at a certain moment."
Youngest son Mark Lynam said his parents raised eight children: one girl and seven boys. Michelle Lynam recalled her father-in-law as being the only adult altar boy in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese -- wearing his cassock and toting his camera to all first communions, confirmations and other Catholic events.
"He seemed to be at every noteworthy event of my childhood, adolescence and early adulthood," said John Frederick, father of Jared. "He did every first holy communion, graduation, May crowning, sports team and church group photo at Saint Leo's Church and School from before WWII to his retirement. I'm sure I and Saint Leo's are a very small subset of the people, places and institutions he photographed for well over half a century. It might have been three-quarters of a century. I cannot fathom how many people he photographed over that time span."
Mark Lynam said his father remained interested in photography throughout his life and was amazed at the high quality and small size of digital cameras.
"He looked at all his equipment and acknowledged it was obsolete," Mark Lynam said.
Despite advancements in photography equipment, Lynam's work still stands out due to his diligence and his eye for detail.
"His work is unparalleled in scope and richness of subject matter," Frederick said.