To say that Lyn Lindberg has led an interesting and eventful life would be an understatement. This relatively new resident of Cape Coral, his lovely wife Karen and their four Shitzu dogs, have made themselves at home in the 2 years they have been here. They have been busy exploring our beaches and watching those fascinating sunsets.
Lyn originally hails from Boston. As a kid, he sold newspapers in and around Fenway Park. When I say “in,” I really mean “IN” the stadium. Lyn was granted access to both the Home and Visitors’ clubhouses during baseball season. When the Yankees came to town, Yogi Berra would even buy all of Lyn’s newspapers!
A career Air Force step-father led to Lyn living in Germany and the U.K during his teenage years, even graduating from High school in London, England in 1962. Lyn then joined the Marine Corps right after school, and, as a Crash Rescue Specialist with the Marine Air wings, he spent the next six years in places like Paris Island, S.C., Camp Lejeune, S.C., NAS Memphis, MCAS Yuma, AZ, MCAS El Toro, CA., Camp Pendleton, Iwakuni, Japan, Chu Lai, Vietnam, Quantico, Va. He left active service as a Warrant Officer, WO1.
Lyn’s aviation experience and pilot’s license led to a job as a co-pilot with the U.S. Air subsidiary Allegheny Airlines, but that wasn’t exciting enough for Lyn. So, in 1988, Lyn joined the United States Information Agency as a photographer.
Photography had long been his biggest hobby. When the USIA was disbanded in ’88, Lyn transferred to the State Department. In 2000, he was assigned to the White House where he photographed U.S. Presidents and heads of State, along with lots of celebrities. When asked “who were some of the most interesting people you’ve photographed?” Lyn quickly replied, “The Clintons.”
Lyn also worked with the Voice of America as a TV producer for President Reagan’s pet project, World Net TV. VOA sent him around the world, and in the process, Lyn became fluent in Japanese, as well as proficient in four other languages, including Arabic.
He’s received too many Distinguished Service awards to count, met numerous music celebrities who performed live for VOA broadcasts (Kenny Rogers, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, Gloria Loring, Roy Orbison, to name a few) and still served at the pleasure of five U.S. Presidents: Ronald Reagan, George Bush #1, Bill Clinton, George Bush #2 and Barack Obama.
While all this was going on, Lyn and Karen also ran one of Washington, D.C.’s most popular and successful wedding photography businesses for 25 years!
Lyn keeps busy these days as a volunteer with CERT (Community Emergency Response Team.) When a disaster strikes, like last year’s tornado, CERT personnel are first on the scene evaluating the situation so that Police and Fire Department energies are directed to whom and what needs the most help. CERT volunteers are proficient in first aid, CPR, and are trained in emergency procedures. Lyn is also a volunteer member of the National Weather Service’s SKY WATCH team. He completed an 8-week course in detecting weather anomalies and reports back to NWS Headquarters in Tampa.
Lyn and Karen love to take pictures of those glorious Southwest Florida sunrises and sunsets. While it may not be as exotic as the Dali Lama (yes, Lyn took his pictures when he visited Washington, D.C.) or a head of state from, say, Canada, or a Middle Eastern potentate, Lyn’s photos of Southwest Florida can be seen if you’re lucky enough to be a friend on his Facebook page. Lyn says he loved his job(s) and, why not? He’s met just about everybody that is somebody for the past 30 years, knows the White House inside and out (including scandals,) is retired, and now lives in a gorgeous home on a canal in SW Cape Coral. And boy does he have stories to tell!
