Farewell Michael Flinn (15 June 1941 - 1 August 2015)
Michael de Vlaming Flinn of Delray Beach, FL, and Greenwich, CT, died peacefully at home on August 1, 2015. Born on June 15, 1941 in Durham, N.C., the son of Marion de V. Flinn and Lawrence Flinn. He attended Aiken Preparatory, Hotchkiss, and Yale, from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1962. He received a JD from Harvard Law in 1965. Michael was a Captain in Army Intelligence at Ft. Benning, Ft. Holabird and The Pentagon. His law career began at White and Case, and later merged into the fields of finance and Connecticut State politics. He was a limited partner at Ingalls and Snyder, 1970 to 1996, later joining the firm of Spears, Benzak, Solomon and Farrell, and in recent years has been a managing director at Tocqueville Asset Management, where he was the General Partner of Blooming Grove Partners, LP.
He was elected to two terms from the 149th District to the Connecticut State House of Representatives from 1982 to 1986. His terms there as well as his fifteen years on the Board and as President of the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, his years of service on the Republican Town Meeting, the Board of Greenwood Cemetery, and The Cold Water Conservation Fund, gave strong expression to his commitment to community service.
Michael excelled as an athlete and sportsman. Above all he admired and unfailingly practiced good sportsmanship. He was famous for his many Clubs extending from New York to Florida, where he pursued competition with enthusiasm particularly in squash and Court Tennis. In March he and his partner Jonathan Pardee, successfully defended his National Court Tennis doubles title in the over 70 age category at the International Tennis Center in Newport, R.I. In May, he captained the American team at Prested Hall, England against an International field.
We will miss his bright mind, love of art, poetry, music, gardens and travel, his fondness for being in nature, his generosity, his admonition always to be kind, his winning smile and unforgettable laugh. He lived his life fully and lovingly to the very last day.
Michael is survived by his brother, Lawrence Flinn, Jr., his first wife, Elizabeth Tracey, and their four children: William III, Michael, Jr., Theodore, and Randall, as well as his wife Ann, two step children, Allison Ryan and Jonathan Hanes. All their wonderful spouses: Maura, Suzanne, Michael, John and Victoria, and twelve beautiful and adoring grandchildren. Michael's eldest brother George died in October 2014.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Michael de V. Flinn to the Everglades Foundation, 18001 Old Cutler Road, suite 625, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157.
A memorial service will take place at Round Hill community Church, 395 Round Hill Road, Greenwich, CT., on Friday August 7, 2015 at 10:30AM. Condolences may be offered at www.leopgallaghergreenwich.com