Obituary of John Michael Flynn

John (Jack) Michael Flynn, 88, passed away peacefully after a brief illness with his family by his side on August 30th, 2025. His last words were “Thank you.” 

Jack was born to Thomas and Anna (Quinn) Flynn on July 22, 1937 in upper Manhattan, but soon thereafter the family moved to the Bronx, which became a defining part of his identity. He attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parochial School and Power Memorial High School. As the son of Irish immigrants, Jack had a deep connection to the Emerald Isle, visiting a dozen times over the course of his life. 

A voracious athlete from an early age, Jack spent most of his time in the streets and parks of the Bronx, playing stick ball, football, Gaelic football and, of course, basketball. He was blessed with three siblings, his sister, Patricia (Quinn), and his brothers Thomas and Phillip. Many aunts, uncles, and cousins from around New York and Ireland were always coming for a Sunday meal or staying for a few weeks at a time. The door was always open, and Anna was always cooking.

Jack furthered his education at Fordham University, majoring in accounting and minoring in philosophy. After college, he served in the US Army as a 2nd Lieutenant and eventually earned his Masters in Business Administration at  NYU. He started his professional career at International Paper, followed by positions at Bell Labs, Xerox, Mennen, and eventually served more than 25 years at Citibank, where he finished his career. 

While at Fordham, Jack went on a blind date with a woman named Kathleen O’Neill, and his world changed forever. It was love at first site…for Jack. They were married three years later and would have celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary this October. 

After brief stints in Rochester and Westchester, Jack and Kathleen raised their five kids in the Lake Valhalla neighborhood in Montville, NJ. They dove right into the community, teaching religion to high school students, coaching basketball, hosting field days for the local civic association, and hosting the neighborhood St. Patrick’s Day party for decades. The Flynn house on West Lake Drive was the epicenter for kids in the area, where pick-up games of football, wiffle ball, basketball, and “kick the can” were played year round. Jack was known for coming out to the hoops court and showing how it was done in the Bronx. His happiest moments were rollicking Sunday dinners with friends and family, where all were welcome.

Jack’s and Kathleen’s first born was John (J.P.) Patrick, the sweet, wonderful “boy next door.” Next came Brian, the Irish twin, 18 months later. Three years after that, a baby girl was born, but died because of complications during childbirth. Two years later, “The Twins” arrived, Kerry and Christine, and life would never be the same. 

Jack’s life was blessed with a wonderful community and family, including 22 nieces and nephews that he saw regularly. Life was about as good as it gets, until it wasn’t. On December 21st, 1988, J.P. Flynn, at the age of 21, was murdered along with 269 other innocents in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie Scotland. As Kathleen immediately went to work to seek justice, Jack was right there every step of the way, the immovable rock to her fire. For 30 years, along with other family members, Kathleen and Jack were tireless advocates, holding corporations, governments, and individual criminals responsible. During this period Jack and Kathleen moved their family to Washington, D.C. for a handful of years before settling back in their beloved Montville, and finally relocating to Madison, NJ to be closer to their daughters and the sports fields of their grandchildren. 

Upon retirement from an illustrious career at Citibank, Jack turned his focus and energy to his community and his grandchildren. He served for almost ten years as an EMT before “retiring again” in his seventies. Then it was all about being an amazing grandfather to his nine grandchildren, hosting countless birthday parties and holidays, driving back and forth to school and Dunkin Donuts, serving as their biggest sports fan, and leading them in a John Denver “Country Road” sing along. Being Pop Pop was the greatest joy of his life, and he dished out love and advice in equal measure. His generosity of spirit lives on in each of them, and all who benefited from calling Jack Flynn friend. 

A life-long practicing Irish Catholic, Jack lived the Jesuit teachings of social justice throughout his life, and sought comfort from his faith in his darkest moments, of which he had more than his share. It was this deep commitment to his moral compass that kept him serving others even as he took less for himself. 

John Michael Flynn is survived by his three children: Brian (Amy Scheibe) Flynn, Kerry (Rico) Mariani, and Christine (John) Regan, nine grandchildren: Bo and Hedda Flynn, Brendan, Sean, Gabriella, and Cecelia Mariani, Quinn, Callum, and Devin Regan, and many, many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial for Jack which will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 5th, 2025 at St. Vincent Martyr RC Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison, NJ. Those who wish to attend the mass virtually may do so by visiting www.svmnj.org

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to your local Emergency Response Team in Jack’s name.