Daniel C. Lynch, a pioneer in the field of computer networking whose work helped pave the way for the commercialization of the internet, passed away at the age of 82 at his home in St. Helena, Calif. His daughter, Julie Lynch-Sasson, confirmed that he had been battling kidney failure.
In the 1980s and ’90s, when the internet was still in its infancy and primarily used by academia and the government, Mr. Lynch foresaw its potential for commercial use. He played a crucial role in the early development of data networking and was instrumental in organizing workshops to train vendors and developers on configuring equipment for routing internet traffic.
One of Mr. Lynch’s most significant contributions was the creation of Interop, an event that brought together industry experts to showcase the capabilities of the internet for businesses. The event, which started in the late 1980s, grew to become one of the largest computer exhibitions in the world, fostering a global community of networking specialists.
In addition to his work with Interop, Mr. Lynch also founded ConneXions, a technical journal focused on data networking. His efforts helped to shape the internet landscape and establish standards that are still in use today.
After selling Interop to Ziff Davis in 1991 for an estimated $25 million, Mr. Lynch went on to pursue other ventures, including starting a vineyard in Napa Valley and co-founding CyberCash, an early internet-based payment service.
Mr. Lynch’s legacy lives on through his contributions to the internet industry and the impact he had on shaping the way we connect and share information online. He is survived by his daughter Julie and five other children, as well as seven grandchildren.
