Lynn Herman Lang, 83, of Browns River Road in Essex, Vt., and more recently Garden View Memory Care at the Converse Home in Burlington, Vt., died on October 30, 2026, in the ICU of the University of Vermont Medical Center.
Lynn was born on August 10, 1943, in St. Johnsbury, Vt., and lived in Lyndonville, Vt. He was the son of Edward S. and Iris E. (Shaw) Lang. Lynn graduated from Lyndon Institute in 1961, followed by enlistment in the U.S. Navy. He served on the USS Comstock during the Vietnam War era in the communications and electronics deception unit known as Beach Jumpers. Upon discharge from the Navy, Lynn returned to Vermont and began employment at IBM, retiring in 2000.
One evening on a blind date at the Flynn Theater, Lynn met the woman he would love for the rest of his life, Susan G. Sykas of Montpelier. They were married on August 30, 1980. They enjoyed many things together, like raising sheep, turkeys, pigs and chickens at Susan’s parents’ farm in Montpelier, and built a new home, sugarhouse and barn in Essex. Lynn also pursued many endeavors on his own by avidly reading and taking classes in sugar making, beekeeping, baking, antique clock repair, weaving and market gardening, but his greatest enjoyment came from blacksmithing. He could create things as delicate as a long-stemmed rose or as sturdy as a decorative iron gate, all from metal. Lynn enjoyed every moment working as a blacksmith at Shelburne Museum for 15 years. Lynn also was a member and officer in the Chittenden County Sugar Makers and the Vermont Beekeepers associations and the Essex Art League, as well as the superintendent of maple and honey at the Champlain Valley Fair. Lynn was chief of whole lamb barbeques at Sykas Family reunions, as well as baker of many stunning Christmas Yule logs. In the early years, after returning from the Navy, Lynn taught a Boating Seamanship and Safety class on Lake Champlain.
Lynn is survived by his loving wife, Susan (Sykas); son, Jason E. Lang, MD, and his wife, Kathryn E. Crampton, MD; and his three cherished grandchildren, Elizabeth, Sydney and Samuel. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mark Sykas and wife Sharon; sister-in-law Lady Astacio (wife of the late Eric Sykas); aunt, Leone Gale; and cousin, Brett Gale. Lynn leaves behind a beloved generation of nieces and nephews, including Abigail and husband Periklis Karoutas, Benjamin Sykas, Alexander Sykas, Christopher Lang and wife Marilyn, Gregory Lang and wife Dorie, and Sherburne Lang II and wife Susan. Lynn also leaves longtime friends Russell Holmes and Eugene Button, as well as Mavis the Maine coon cat.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Diane and husband Paul Lentine; brother, Sherburne Lang, and wife Helen; sister Ina Mae and husband Gordon DeWitt; and brother-in-law Eric Sykas.
In accordance with their wishes, a joint Celebration of Life will be held for Lynn and Susan together upon Susan’s passing. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Lynn’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association to support research and care.