BY RYAN O’CONNOR
In the May 4 edition of The Bow Times, we wrote about Dr. Susan Lynch’s continued contributions to her hometown of Hopkinton. This week, we had the opportunity to talk with Lynch and find out a little bit more about her as a person, as well as the first lady of New Hampshire.
Q: How do you balance the responsibilities of being a mother of three (Jacqueline, 20, Julia, 18, and Hayden, 14), working as a part-time physician and serving as the first lady of New Hampshire?
A: It is definitely a juggling act. I just have to stay very, very organized, keep track of schedules – my work schedule, my children’s schedule, my husband’s schedule – and go over them with everybody each week, then go over them each night to get ready for the next day. It may be a little complex for me, but I don’t think I’m much different than anyone else, wearing multiple hats, who have to do the same thing (in their everyday routine).
Q: Childhood obesity is one of your most passionate causes. How does being the first lady help you to promote knowledge and understanding of this nationwide issue?
A: It has really been a great opportunity for me. Childhood obesity is an issue I have had to deal with every day in my practice at the Cholesterol Treatment Center at Concord Hospital because many children referred to me with cholesterol issues have the underlying problem of childhood obesity.
Though I had intended to be an active first lady, I hadn’t thought about it. It just occurred to me that using the visibility the role gave me really allows me to connect people across the state, who are working on similar projects, that may not be aware of each other, which has been very rewarding.
Q: Tell us about a trait or passion of yours that most people don’t know about.
A: One thing that’s been a lifelong passion of mine has been dance. I grew up with all sorts of dance, especially ballet. At one time I wanted to be ballet dancer as a career, and to this day I still love it. I no longer dance formally, but still enjoy seeing it whenever possible.
Q: How did you and your husband meet, and was it love at first site?
A: It wasn’t really (love at first site), but we were very much attracted to each other. I was 15 (years old) and he was 17 and were both working at Friendly’s Ice Cream after school. We became good friends right away, but didn’t date until six years after we met, when, on a weekend we were both home from college, attended a wedding of mutual friends and began to date after that.
Q: What is your favorite activity to do during your leisure time?
A: It depends on the season. In the winter it’s downhill skiing. In warmer weather I really love to rollerblade, which I do every day. During my inside time, I really love to cook, especially Italian dishes. I’m not sure if I can choose among those three things, but I love to do them all.
Q: Where is your favorite spot to travel?
A: Anywhere. I think it’s so interesting to learn about places and there is no better way to do that than to visit them, so I’ll go about anywhere when the opportunity presents itself.
Q: What are your favorite foods? Meal? Dessert?
A: My favorite food to eat is probably salads. I like any kind of salads and the more creative the better.
I’m not a big dessert eater. I think I was one of the few people born without a big sweet tooth. I’m really more of a a salt person, but if I had to choose I’d probably say oatmeal raisin cookies.
Q: Anything else you would like people to know about you?
A: I’d like people to know that just because John is governor and I’m the first lady, we’re really not much different from most people. We still like being outdoors – playing pickup basketball or baseball games, taking family vacations, hiking, camping, bike riding – we still love to do stuff like that as much as possible.