Tributes pour in for Lexington teen who died in Colorado one day before birthday
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Noah Tinch, a UK student and former athlete, died while fishing in Colorado at 18.
- Tributes from UK fraternity, sports clubs, and Lexington community honor Tinch's life.
- A memorial fund for youth soccer access has raised over $32,000 toward a $35,000 goal.
Several groups have posted online tributes to a Lexington teenager who died while fishing in Colorado one day before his 19th birthday.
Noah Tinch, a University of Kentucky student and former student-athlete for Henry Clay High School in Lexington, was found unresponsive in less than 3 feet of water by his mother, Angie Tinch, in Colorado Thursday. His mother performed CPR, and paramedics continued efforts but ultimately he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
Tinch was born in Lone Tree, Colorado, but had lived in Lexington since 2012. He was a rising sophomore at UK, a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and was majoring in kinesiology.
The Beta Theta Pi chapter at UK said it was shocked to hear the news of Tinch’s death. The fraternity said Tinch made an impact on every person he met.
“He was one of the nicest, most amazing, and enjoyable person we had ever met,” the fraternity said in an Instagram post. “He spoke highly of everyone and spoke badly on nobody. His character mirrored what we all strive to be.”
The national Beta Theta Pi organization said it’s coordinating the official and public Beta Burial Ceremony at his celebration of life, scheduled for Saturday, June 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Harris Ballroom of the UK Gatton Student Center. Flags at the fraternity’s administrative office in Oxford, Ohio, have been lowered to half-staff to honor Tinch.
In high school, Tinch was a member of the boys soccer team. He was an all-city honorable mention soccer player in 2023.
In a letter sent to Henry Clay High School families, Principal Tony Blackman said the loss is difficult for the community. Help is being offered to anyone within the school who may need it.
“Noah was a student and a dedicated player on the boys’ soccer team, known to many as a sweet and quiet young man,” Blackman said in the letter. “His former teachers, friends, and classmates will deeply miss him.”
Tinch also played for Lexington Sporting Club and other travel teams, including Cincinnati United Premier Development Academy as a younger player. Lexington Sporting Club said Tinch was a bright and compassionate young man who played for the club’s youth team in its inaugural season in 2022-23.
“Lexington Sporting Club, and the entire Lexington community send their deepest condolences to Noah’s family and friends as we grieve alongside them during this heartbreaking time,” Lexington Sporting Club said in a statement on social media.
Tinch’s mother is CEO of Special Olympics Kentucky. In a statement, the organization said Tinch shared his mother’s passion for Special Olympics and even volunteered at a soccer tournament shortly before his death.
“During this time of mourning, we extend our heartfelt condolences and support to Angie and the entire Cruse and Tinch families,” Special Olympics Kentucky said in a Facebook post.
Tinch’s father, Brett Tinch, is a senior mortgage consultant for Prosperity Home Mortgage. Mortgage Bankers Association of the Bluegrass, a nonprofit organization that promotes ethics and education in the mortgage industry, encouraged people to donate to the “Noah Tinch Legacy Fund.”
The money will go toward continuing Tinch’s efforts to help children without means attend soccer camps and might also be used to establish a scholarship for a future Henry Clay soccer defensive player, his father said.
As of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the fundraiser had raised more than $32,000, just a couple thousand dollars short of the fundraiser’s goal of raising $35,000.
“Brett has given so much to the mortgage and real estate community over the years, and now it’s our turn to support him and his family during this unimaginable time,” the organization said in a Facebook post. “... Together, we can make sure they know just how much they are cared for by their industry family.”
