Marty Lynch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You often hear people say, as they look back at their life, that they don't have any regrets. Upon reflection, I think I'd have to say that I fall into that category. Yet, having said that,  I have to admit, when I look back on my life, I do sometimes think about the Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken." That doesn't mean that I wonder if my life was one wrong turn after another, nor does it mean I'm not happy. It just means I sometimes wonder,... what if?  

  

After Cathedral Latin closed, I finished up my last year at Cleveland Heights High School. I really didn't care about college, and in my senior year of high school I filled out zero college applications. Looking back I wonder,.... what if? I eventually did find my way into Tri­-C for a year before enlisting in the US Army. I spent time in South Korea and at the National Security Agency in Maryland, and while stationed there, attended the University of Maryland, where I would ultimately receive my Bachelor Degree in Management. I had an opportunity to become a commissioned officer while in the Army, but chose to leave the military after four years, instead of making it a career,....what if?  

  

I bounced around a few sales jobs over the next 5 or 6 years before deciding to go to graduate school full time at Cleveland State. I worked as a graduate assistant which paid me peanuts, but did cover my education costs. I received a Master of Public Administration Degree in 1993. While there, I did an internship for an Ohio State Senator and caught the political bug. I was accepted into the Cleveland­-Marshall Law School in the fall of 1993, but just prior to the first day of class, I withdrew from the program,....what if?  

  

Instead, I got into the cellular business that fall and stayed in that industry for the next 5 years. During that time, I made a run for the Ohio General Assembly. I got smoked. I realized that being a republican in a democratic county wouldn't bode well for me and my future political aspiration, so I walked away from the idea of being a politician,....what if?  

  

In 2003, I decided that I had enough of selling stuff for other people and would go into business for myself. I started an upscale party rental business that focused on high­-end products like crystal and gold chandeliers and candelabra, custom painted dance floors, and all things fancy. I did mostly society weddings, benefits and balls and things went well for awhile. When the crash hit in 2008, I got crushed. People still got married, and there were still benefits and balls, but people cut back on the high end accessories, which is all I sold. Looking back, it was nice working for someone who would cut me a paycheck every two weeks and cover my medical premiums,....what if?  

  

It was rough for a while, but I got a job working for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections at the end of 2008 and am currently an Assistant Manager in the Election Equipment Department. The job is going well, I really enjoy it, and I have no immediate plans to go elsewhere.

  

In 1988, I married a Regina girl, Suzanne Hlavin, and for the record, no what if here. We have lived in Highland Heights, Ohio since 2002 and have two sons; Thomas 24, who is a graduate of St. Olaf College in Minnesota, and is currently employed by the Ohio Lottery Commission. And Stephen, 20, who is finishing up his second year at Lakeland CC and will look to transfer into an accounting program at Ohio State or Kent State next year.  

  

When I'm not pestering people with reunion related things, I focus my attention on other pastimes. I started a bowling league with 60 of my closest friends about 10 years ago, and converted that to a bocce league back in 2011, that league now includes approximately 100 members. It's actually become sort of a hobby now; developing schedules, updates scores and standings, and working on the year end banquet. It keeps me out of my wife's hair for a couple hours a week and she relishes that. For the past 5 years I have been hanging out at Blossom Music Center during their summer Country Concert Series. I still don't know who these country singers are, but our group puts on a helluva tailgate party before each event, and that's good enough for me. Also, for the past ten years I have also been fortunate enough to act as a judge in the annual Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade. It's a nice way to enjoy my heritage without having to drink green beer all day, though I don't really mind drinking green beer all day.  

  

There are no plans for early retirement in my future; I expect to grind out another 14 years in the coal mines before I put my feet up. Most of my travels have been group vacations. My family spent 8 years heading up to a Canadian resort every summer with what ended up being a group of 72 people. When the resort became private, we turned are attention to ocean cruising, which had a seven year run. Our annual booze cruise usually consisted of about 30 or so friends, but I decided it was time to jump off board  when I finally realized I was getting too old to hang with the youngsters. The only travel we currently have on our list is to get to Ireland in the next year or two.  

  

I don't know if I'm done having "what if"  moments, or if I still have a few more in me. I do know this, though there have been some forks in the road, and some bumps along the way, I am one lucky guy, and I am very happy with how my life unfolded. I have a wonderful wife, two non-­pain in the ass kids, and a group of good friends to share laughs with on a regular basis. ​I suppose I don't really care what's behind door number two, because what I have right now is worth keeping,......and I can honestly say, there are no if, ands, or buts about it.