Friends and colleagues remember slain lobbyists slain in Loomis residence

Kathryn Lynch, 67, and her partner, Gerald (Jerry) Upholt, 80, were found dead inside their Loomis residence on Monday, March 28 during a welfare check by Placer County Sheriff's Office, according to the Sheriff's Office. Last week, the Placer County District Attorney's Office announced criminal charges were filed against the couple's son, 19-year-old Dennis Lynch, for two counts of murder with special allegations and circumstances alleged. The defendant is being held without bail and his arraignment has been set for April 13. The alleged double homicide has shocked Kathryn Lynch's and Upholt's friends, colleagues and many in the community. Lynch and Upholt were well-known throughout California, according to Ann Andersen, Kathryn Lynch's assistant at Lynch and Associates. Lynch and Upholt were lobbyists for more than 45 years, according to close friend and colleague, Sandy Delise. According to Andersen, Upholt was "mostly retired for the last few years but still worked closely with the sports groups" he represented as a lobbyist. Delise told Gold Country Media on Wednesday that one of Upholt's biggest clients was the California Rifle and Pistol Association. "Jerry loved fishing trips in Alaska every year, hunting trips and safaris," Delise said about Upholt. "He loved the outdoors and worked all around their homes inside and out. He (Jerry) was an amazing man and 'jack of all trades.'" Kathryn Lynch was a lobbyist for a number of clients specifically tied to arts education and two other education groups, according to Andersen. Many of Kathryn Lynch's clients from the arts education industry paid their condolences via Facebook. Mark Shavin, a friend and colleague of Lynch through her work with arts education posted on his Facebook page Tuesday: "I am shaken and devastated by the tragic death of my friend and colleague, Kathy Lynch," Shavin wrote. "She has been the key lobbyist in Sacramento on behalf of arts education and so many other important issues." More than 50 other arts education officials added their comments as of press time, praising Kathryn Lynch for her work ethic and dedication to arts education. Kathryn Lynch's clientele also consisted of corporations in the paper industry, waste haulers in Southern California, small sporting groups and electric car industries. Andersen served as Lynch's assistant for more than 12 years, where she grew close with Kathryn Lynch and Upholt. "She and Jerry were such good people," Andersen said. The couple had a good balance toward one another," according to Andersen. "He was much more laid back and Kathy was so energetic and vibrant," Andersen said. "Kathryn Lynch was a 'great boss' and worked hard," Andersen said. "She was industrious and very good at not letting anything fall through the cracks," Andersen said. "She didn't take sides, as far as political parties are concerned." Lynch and Upholt's close friend, Delise, tearfully cherished her memories with her friends. Delise said she met Lynch and Upholt in 1982 while working at the California State Capitol. Favorite memories with Kathryn Lynch and Upholt include double-dates with Delise and her husband at Rudy's Hideaway in Rancho Cordova and the two couples taking an Alaskan cruise in 2012. "We all always had great conversations and laughs," Delise said. Loomis resident Terri Crosetti has lived across the road from the couple for more than 30 years. "I'm saddened.I can't imagine the tragedy of the circumstances that came to this," Crosetti told Gold Country Media on Wednesday. "We knew (the couple) enough to wave and say hi. Jerry and my husband would talk occasionally about numerous subjects." Crosetti said that she watched the couple's son, Dennis, grow up. Friends and family shared that Kathryn Lynch adopted Dennis from Russia when he was a toddler. "He was such a sweet, charming little boy," Crosetti said about Dennis. "(Dennis) was just (always) happy, and waving at everybody (in the neighborhood). He (Dennis) was just so sweet. When he (Dennis) grew up, he started to become a challenge." According to Crosetti, the son has a record of breaking into neighbors' homes and breaking windows over the years. Gold Country Media will continue to provide updates on this developing story.