Alumnae Profile

Susan Upton Lynch ’76

Anxious to see a change for the better in New Hampshire’s administration, Susan Upton Lynch fully supported her husband’s decision to run for governor. “Prior to and during the campaign,” says Susan, “we must have had over twelve discussions as a family as to what this would mean for all of us … negative publicity … long work hours for both parents.” However, when John Lynch actually won the election in January 2005, Susan—a doctor and mother of three—was somewhat taken aback to hear herself referred to by another title: First Lady.

After almost a year in her new role, Susan can now say that the entire family has benefited immensely from the change in their lives. John Lynch, a popular governor, thrives in his new position; Susan finds herself in the extremely gratifying position of being able “to touch more lives”; and their children—Jacqueline, 19, Julia, 16, and Hayden, 12—have been introduced to a wealth of new ideas and interesting people.

They have also developed greater independence and maturity as a result of some of the constraints involved in being the governor’s children. “Family meals are certainly a thing of the past,” says Susan; and vacation time has been dramatically reduced. Thus far the only complaint has come from Hayden, who doesn’t like donning a suit and tie; he would, however, concede that meeting the Patriots and Red Sox more than compensated for the discomfort.

As for her own career, Susan continues to specialize in treating cholesterol disorders at the Concord Hospital Cholesterol Treatment Center on a part-time basis, having left her clinical position as pediatrician in 1997. Not surprisingly, Susan chose childhood obesity as her chief cause and commits much of her energy to a number of related initiatives. New Hampshire, although otherwise considered a healthy state, has a startling percentage of obese children.

Susan is also very involved in efforts to promote the state’s arts and artists. Susan still manages to fit in two to three days a week at the treatment center. “Work is now a sort of refuge, where I can focus entirely on my patients,” she says.

Nevertheless, the responsibilities of First Lady do take most of her time, which is fine by Susan. “It has really been a gift to come across so many ordinary…but-extraordinary people, those committed to the greater good. It makes one realize that, well… we’re going to be okay!”

—By Deborah Sharp

You may have many vocations in your life. But about each, you should ask yourself three things: Does it give you joy? Are you good at it? Does it serve others? — Donal O’Shea, dean of faculty, baccalaureate address, 2001