Thomas E. Flynn, 73, Bristol

Posted 1/18/16

Thomas E. Flynn, 73, of Bristol passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center in Providence. He was the loving husband of Andrea (Nappi) Flynn, his wife of 48 years.

Born in Fall River, he was the …

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Thomas E. Flynn, 73, Bristol

Posted

Thomas E. Flynn, 73, of Bristol passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center in Providence. He was the loving husband of Andrea (Nappi) Flynn, his wife of 48 years.

Born in Fall River, he was the youngest son of George P. and Anna (Brown ) Flynn of Warren. Tom is survived by his brother, Jack Flynn and his wife Joan of Warren. He was the brother of the late George Flynn.

A man of many interests, Tom always looked forward to in-depth and lively conversations about local politics, life, family, hard work and education, whether it be at home or at the local barber shop. Tom thought nothing of calling or emailing his local representatives, Senators, and friends to discuss issues at hand.

Besides his wife and brother, Tom is survived by his six children: Patty (Jonathan) Palmer of Bridgewater, Ma., Maggie (Steve) Morris of Norfolk, Ma., Michael (Joann) Flynn of Poughkeepsie, NY, Brian (Jenn) Flynn of Croton- on-Hudson, NY, Thom (Anyea) Flynn of Washington, DC, and John (Jenny) Flynn of Winter Garden, FL. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Jackson, Abigail and Caroline Palmer; Charlie, Emily and Matthew Morris; Ryan and Gavin Flynn; Sadie and Vincent Flynn; Ellis Flynn and Nathaniel Flynn, all of whom adored their Grampa, Papa, Papa Boo, and Gumpy.

Tom spent the first 28 years of his life in the town of Warren, a town he dearly loved, taking advantage of many of the “hometown” activities that it had to offer. Along the way, he became the Little League Batting Champion, the Child Street Playground Supervisor, the town of Warren Tennis Champion, an elected member of the Warren Charter Commission, Vice President of Warren's Little League Baseball, and Secretary of the Warren Democratic Town Committee. One of the activities that he particularly enjoyed was being a member of the Central Fire Company, during which he performed in many of the Horribles Parades which marched along the streets of Warren during the 1960s.

A graduate of the former Warren High School, Class of 1960, and of Providence College, Class of 1964, Tom rounded out his involvement with the Town of Warren when he became a member of the Warren Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and an auditor at St. Mary of the Bay Church.

His military service consisted of a two-year stateside tour at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. In 1966 he was discharged from the service as a Specialist, 5th class, which was the highest honor that a two year draftee could achieve at that time. What was interesting to his children was the fact that he received the Sharp Shooter Award at the time of his discharge!

For many years, during high school, college, and later, Tom worked in various capacities at the former Ferrazzano Florist Shop. His first "real" job came in 1966 with his employment in the finance office at Brown University. He later left Brown to assume a position in the tax department at KPMG (Peat Marwick) where he rose to the position of Tax Manager. Tom retired in 2008 as Chief Financial Officer of ETCO in Warwick where he worked for nearly thirty years.

During his years of employment, Tom managed for various lengths of time to be a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and the Rhode Island Society of CPAs. He also became a certified timer so that he could assist at pool side during his children's many swim meets. (One can only imagine the deep sense of pride that he experienced in November of 2014, as he watched each of his six children inducted into the Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame for their swimming prowess.)

In recent years he unearthed his massive collection of stamps and returned with a new zeal to his former passion of stamp collecting. He joined the American Philatelic Society, and he attended many of the annual exhibitions in the Northeast.

With the time that retirement sometimes brings, Tom rediscovered his love of reading. One book was not enough. He began a crusade to find the best book sales, wherever that may bring him. He consumed entire collections from the likes of authors such as Grisham, Silva, Baldacci, Flynn, Crichton, and more.

For many, it will probably be Tom's daily walks to Warren that will clearly define him. Either mornings or afternoons, he could be seen heading off to Warren to pay bills, go to the post office, stop in to see Mike, the barber, or just sit on the bench in front of the library. But for those who really knew him, it was the love of his friends and family that was the true fiber of his being and made him the man that we all love...

His funeral will be held on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 from Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Road, Warren, RI at 9 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary of the Bay Church, 645 Main St., Warren, RI. Burial will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery, Warren. Visiting hours will be Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02904 or to St. Mary of the Bay Church, 645 Main Street, Warren, RI 02885.

See www.wjsmithfh.com.

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