Lynnette White Mcmahon
November 23, 1956 — August 9, 2023
Lynnette White McMahon was born on November 23, 1956 at Daniel Freeman Hospital in Inglewood, California to Edward Thomas White and Marilyn Rose Van Wig White. She was their first child.
She grew up in Torrance, CA, where she attended Nativity Catholic Grammar School and Bishop Montgomery Catholic High School. She was active in Girl Scouts and Sea Scouts, was a leader on the high school Spirit Flag team, and spent many happy hours outdoors camping, water skiing, snow skiing and sailing with her large extended family of cousins and friends.
She attended California State University at Long Beach, where she began her lifelong association with Alpha Omicron Pi Women’s Fraternity. She was very active as a collegiate, filling many roles and working on numerous events, eventually rising to serve as Chapter President. The friends she made during her college years became her lifelong sisters. She was also affiliated with Theta Chi Fraternity, where she met her husband, Jim. She was voted Dream Girl, and elected Imperial Daughter of the Crossed Swords.
Jim and Lynnette married in 1984, and lived in Garden Grove before moving their growing family back to Long Beach in 1990, where they live to this day in the house where Jim grew up.
Lynnette had a widely varied professional career, starting with customer service roles, then evolving into corporate marketing and major event management positions. At the beginning of her career, she was a principal in Featherstone Communications, a project management and computer networking company started by Jim’s best friend Stan Mayer.
She then worked for over 6 years at Apple Computer as a Field Marketing Associate in the K-12 Education division, managing large events in the Western US. Her efforts were recognized with many corporate awards and citations. Later she had lead marketing roles at several large software companies, before retiring from corporate life in 2002 to work as an independent consultant so she could spend more time at home with her growing children.
Lynnette and her family were members of St. Hedwig parish in Los Alamitos, where she volunteered in many roles, including running several very successful auction events. Later she was active in the Los Alamitos High School football boosters and Show Choir boosters, helping to raise money, manage events and organize trips to competitions. As “Mama McMahon” she was a loving presence to a decade of young people, renowned for hunting down costumes and making emergency alterations in support of Los Al’s nationally recognized Show Choir program. She was also recognized by the Los Alamitos PTA as Volunteer of the Year.
Lynnette was a very active Alumna of Alpha Omicron Pi, serving at different times as Advisor to both the Long Beach State and University of Laverne Chapters. She was also a Network Specialist in Leadership, an Ambassador for the Foundation, a member of 3 different Alumnae chapters, and a member of the local housing corporation board. She attended many regional and national events, most recently the AOPII National Convention in Texas in June 2023. Lynnette has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work in AOPII, including a Ruby Award, a Rose Award, and her 50-year Life Loyalty badge. She was also active in the Long Beach area Panhellenic group, which supports membership, leadership, and scholarship at local NPC Sororities.
Jim’s mom introduced Lynnette to genealogy, sparking a lifelong love that helped her find many lost relatives. This joyful work eventually led Lynnette to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a patriotic and charitable organization of great renown and impact. She served the local Clara Barton chapter as their social media specialist, where she was recognized by the national organization for excellence.
On October 15, 2018, Lynnette was diagnosed with inoperable stage IV cholangiocarcinoma, a rare form of liver cancer. She endured nearly 5 years of constant chemotherapy, clinical trials, radiation therapy, CT scans, blood tests, and other heavy medication. Determined to continue her active life, she focused on supporting her family, sorority, DAR chapter, and all the other important people in her life, while always maintaining the sunny presence and positive attitude for which she was rightly renowned.
In her last years, Lynnette spent many happy days traveling, going to concerts, and attending sorority and fraternity events, spreading happiness wherever she went. She joined her loving husband Jim at many national Theta Chi events, supporting his leadership role on the Grand Chapter of Theta Chi, the national governing board of the Fraternity. Lynnette was recognized by this board for her ongoing support and lifelong service to Theta Chi with a Carnation Award, and also with the Ross Nash Spirit of Theta Chi Award, a particularly meaningful award since Lynnette knew Ross from the day he joined in 1976.
She often teamed up with her best friend Lydia Zaffini, who she first met while working for Apple Computer in the early 1990’s. They went to film festivals, took cruises, attended concerts and major shows, sporting fancy hats and showy clothes, and sharing their exploits on social media as #L&L Adventures.
As part of her battle against cancer, she teamed up with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, promoting their fundraising and research activities, attending their national convention, and participating in support groups. She was also a vocal advocate for the Citizen Foundation, a group making great strides towards simplifying access to medical records for patients and researchers.
On August 9, 2023, Lynnette lost her battle with cancer. She was at home with her family, comfortable and well attended, passing quietly into the hands of Our Lord.
Lynnette is survived by James McMahon, her husband of 39 years; son Robert McMahon; daughters Elizabeth McMahon and Catherine McMahon; mother Marilyn White; brothers Greg White and Mike White; sister Jananne Schlerf; granddaughter California Rose Ramirez; numerous close cousins, nephews, in-laws and relatives; and countless others across the world whose lives she touched.
A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023 at 10:00AM at St. Cornelius Catholic Church, 5500 E. Wardlow Road, Long Beach CA 90808. A Celebration of Life reception will follow at The Grand, 4101 E. Willow Street, Long Beach CA 90815. The theme of the Celebration of Life is “Be Like Lynnette.”
In lieu of flowers or other gifts, Lynnette’s family requests that you help Inspire Ambition through a tax-deductible donation to the Lynnette McMahon Memorial Scholarship fund, or to the Archives Endowment in Memory of Lynnette McMahon, both managed by Alpha Omicron Pi Women’s Fraternity.
Scholarship Fund
Archives Endowment
Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401
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