Daniel Courtney Lynch, an engineer for computer networks, passed away on March 30 at his home in St. Helena, California, at the age of 83. The cause of death was confirmed to be renal failure by his daughter Julie Lynch-Sasson.
During the mid-1980s, Lynch played a pivotal role in the development of computer networks, particularly in the commercialization of the Internet. In 1986, Lynch organized the first seminar to train developers and manufacturers on setting up equipment for routing traffic through the Internet. This seminar, attended by 300 participants, showcased the potential of the Internet for business purposes.
In the late 1980s, Lynch established an event called Interop, which eventually grew into one of the largest computer exhibitions globally. Interop was instrumental in promoting network interaction standards, facilitating data exchange among computers worldwide. Lynch also played a key role in launching Connexions, a technical magazine focused on network technologies. Today, the Internet equipment market is valued at $30 billion. In 1991, Lynch sold Interop to ZIFF DAVIS for approximately $25 million.
Following the sale of Interop, Lynch ventured into the wine business in Napa Valley and co-founded Cybercash in 1994, an Internet service for electronic payments. Despite Cybercash’s bankruptcy in 2001, some team members and project assets transitioned to PayPal.
Daniel Courtney Lynch was born on August 16, 1941, in Los Angeles. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and philosophy from Loyola University in 1963, and two years later, earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
During his career, Lynch served in the US Air Force from 1965 to 1969 before becoming a programmer. In 1973, he joined the Stanford Research Institute as a computers manager, and in 1980, he moved to the University of Southern California’s Institute of Information Sciences in Los Angeles.
Leaving behind six children and seven grandchildren, Lynch’s contributions to Internet technology have left a lasting impact. His work exemplified the Internet’s substantial potential for business and communication.