Lynn Koss Knauff

C. Lynn Koss Knauff, an independent trailblazer, dedicated educator, and lifelong advocate for global women's health and education, passed away on June 29, 2026. She was 90 years old.

Early Life and Formative Years

Lynn was born in Essex County, New Jersey on October 27, 1935, to Franklyn Christian Koss and Helen Moran Koss. She lived with her family in Montclair, New Jersey. Lynn spent her formative years attending a Catholic boarding school, an experience she credited with shaping her into an "independent, step-up woman". Guided by the mentorship of the nuns and later her stepmother, Rosabel Koss, she developed a lifelong foundation of self-discipline, persistence, and purpose. Lynn’s personal philosophy beautifully guided her actions: “Your life has purpose if you see the need for change and help others to do so as well.”

At age 15, Lynn returned to live with her father and stepmother, becoming an exceptional role model and loving guide to her three younger half-sisters.

Education and Early Career

Lynn graduated from St. Lawrence University with a degree in English and Sociology. She lived briefly in Hartford, Connecticut, and Ithaca, New York, before relocating to Honolulu, Hawaii. Immersed in Honolulu's vibrant multicultural community, Lynn worked to foster closer ties between the United States and Asia, frequently engaging with international scholars and returning Peace Corps volunteers at the University of Hawaii.

A Trailblazing Global Legacy

Driven by a desire to make a tangible global impact, Lynn joined the Peace Corps in 1965, specifically requesting assignment in Nepal. She was one of just two women in a cohort of 32 volunteers. Based in Pokhara, she traveled to remote district villages alongside Nepali women to provide vital health and literacy skills, mathematics, and basic healthcare skills to young women. This foundational experience permanently cemented her professional commitment to maternal health and international development.

Upon returning to the United States in 1967, Lynn received a fellowship from the Carolina Population Center to study maternal and child health at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Public Health. Her early career included impactful fieldwork with new mothers in New Orleans housing projects and advisory roles for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) in Washington, D.C. In 1978, she returned to Nepal as Peace Corps Country Director for three years. She trained Peace Corps volunteers to deliver health guidance in villages and local schools and was committed to supporting the well-being of volunteers.

Lynn returned to Chapel Hill in 1982 where she joined the International Health Training (INTRAH) Program of the UNC Medical School as Deputy Director. She held this position for almost 20 years working extensively in south and Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, and Oman. She used her vast knowledge of global health to develop and deliver a global health course and an international maternal and child health course in the UNC School of Public Health.

Lynn’s dedication took her around the world and into the front lines of history, surviving extraordinary adventures—including a plane crash and a political coup—always remaining fiercely dedicated to her mission.

Upon retirement in 2000, Lynn remained active in her community and volunteered with several organizations. Her work with the NC Botanical Garden included contributions to a written 50-year history of the garden. She was active in the Orange County Democratic Women's League and in her homeowner's association. She mentored UNC medical students to reduced stereotype regarding seniors and supported English language learners in Chapel Hill middle schools. In 2019 Lynn was honored as a Community Treasure by the Chapel Hill Historical Society for her numerous contributions to the area.

Lynn is survived by her sisters Susan Kreiner of Gilbertsville, PA, Carolyn Ruef of Stone Harbor, NJ, and Rosalind Diehl of Boulder, CO, and many close friends.

A celebration of Lynn’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the NC Botanical Garden.