Lynn R. Sackett

Lynn Robert Sackett died on February 4, 2019, in Vero Beach, Florida. He was born in New Rochelle, New York, on March 2, 1923, the son of Charles Bailey Sackett and Clara Bertha Graf Sackett. Lynn was preceded in death by his brother Howard A. Sackett, sister Carolyn Sackett Coleburn, and brother-in-law Kenneth M. Coleburn.

Lynn grew up in Larchmont, New York. He attended New Rochelle High School and was active in planning and celebrating his 50th class reunion in 1990. He attended Middlebury College, Harvard University, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1948 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Lynn served his country in World War II. He enlisted in the United States Navy shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Ensign L.R. Sackett served on the USS LST 1019 which was in the invasion of southern France in 1944 and the assault on Okinawa in 1945. He was made commander of that ship in October of 1945, at the age of 23. After his promotion to Lieutenant he attended a meeting of fellow ship commanders. He was told to go back to his ship and send his commanding officer, as he appeared to be much too young to lead. He left the meeting and returned a few minutes later smoking a pipe in the hopes of appearing older than his years.

Lynn spent his entire engineering career with the Sperry Corporation where he worked on several gyroscope-based navigation systems. At Sperry, he invented the first liquid-center gyroscope. He enjoyed his coworkers and the mathematical and intellectual challenges of his work.

Many of his favorite days, from young adulthood into his nineties, were spent playing golf. At Pelham Country Club, in Pelham, New York, and at Grand Harbor in Vero Beach, Florida, he was well known for his excellent golf game, competitive spirit, and good humor on the course. At Pelham Country Club Lynn won nine men’s golf championships and two senior championships. He won so many golf tournaments in Westchester County that the silver trays and bowls and other trophies became a storage problem at his home on Dell Way.

Lynn was a devoted and loving son, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be remembered by family and friends for his over-the-top generosity, love of a good party, and his brilliant analytical mind. Lynn is survived by seven nieces and nephews, seven great-nieces and nephews, and an abundance of friends.

A memorial service will be held for Lynn later in the year.