Bernard Thomas Flynn

RIP December 11, 1926 - September 22, 2017

As we say goodbye to our beloved Bernie, we remember his deep blue hazel Irish eyes, infectious smile, and passion for living his unique life to the fullest. A doting son, brother, husband, father, uncle, Godfather, Alter boy, Fireman, Painter, sports/crab/beach/football/baseball and beer lover, fix it man, neighbor, and friend to so many. From his days growing up as a rough and tumble city kid in the North-East section of the Nations’ Capitol (it was there where he met his wife Bobbie after coming home from the war) to the suburban sprawl of Northern Virginia where after a successful career, he was able to realize his dream for retirement to a warm weather climate in Tampa, Florida.

Christened Bernard Thomas Flynn, he was the youngest of five children from John Michael and Catherine Frances Flynn. His mother’s maiden name was Flynn before she married his father which gave him serious pause each time he tried to fill out those federal government forms. His mother who was born in a tiny town called Ballinasloe emigrating from Ireland in 1910 and then met his father in Washington DC - who had been born in the US but was also full-blooded Irish.

Two of his brothers John and Jack, did not make it passed childhood, his only sister Anne died suddenly in 1965 leaving only his brother Buddy (William) to grow old with. He was raised Catholic and along with his brother was schooled by Nuns and became an Alter Boy. At age 17 he joined the Navy during WWII. From there he utilized the GI bill to train as a refrigeration mechanic for the department of Agriculture. But his ultimate goal was to be accepted into the DC Fire Department which he finally attained in the early 1950’s.

As a DC Firefighter in Georgetown he ran into burning buildings while everyone else was running out. He saved all kinds of people, property, and their pets - in the 60's you could even sometimes catch him saving a parakeet on the nightly news or on the front page of the Metro section in the Washington Post. Bernie’s unit from time to time stood guard for several presidents as they were whisked off in their helicopters on the White House lawn. He was with the Fire Department in DC for over 25 years, had a painting business on the side with his Firemen buddies.

Bernie introduced and taught his wife and daughter how to love and root for loosing Baseball (Senators) and Football (Redskins) teams and told us that it was always much more satisfying to root for the underdog. Taking Cathie to the Senators baseball games in DC was one of his favorite things to do in the 1960’s and early 70’s. On July 4th of 1972 he took Cathie and her best friend to a rather infamous Rolling Stones concert at RFK Stadium and didn’t embarrass them. He was such a cool hip guy that many of the younger attendees were talking, laughing with him and bumming smokes as if he were one of them. Bernie was also somewhat of a dog whisperer. Dogs would walk right up to him and start chatting with him like a long lost friend.

One of his proudest moments was when his daughter Cathie graduated from college. After her freshman year in Boston, she spent 3 years at American University which was in the same NW section of DC as Bernie’s Firehouse as well as many of the very cool older houses and mansions he painted in the late 70’s. There were frequent visits (Cathie and her friends just wanted to see how the other half lived) and he often let her park her car at the Firehouse so she and her pals could spend weekends trolling around Georgetown.

After retiring from the DCFD, Bernie continued part-time with his painting business until he and Bobbie moved to Tampa in 1988. Bernie loved to travel and felt fortunate to have seen "75% of the United States – no reason to go overseas when there is so much to look at right here at home" as he would say. He accomplished his travels through cross country trips with Bobbie’s Florida family in a traveling Winnebago and through the drive service he worked for in Tampa during his golden years. The drive service, Lazy Days – also gave him a unique opportunity. The company was contracted to provide transportation to the Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cheerleaders to the home Sunday football games and those cheerleaders loved him. The company also provided Bernie with free tickets for each home game which was amazing considering the very first Redskins Football game he ever attended was when his daughter Cathie was finally able to get tickets off a corporate season ticket holder in 1982 and again in 1986.

In 2006, Bernie together with his wife Bobbie, daughter Cathie, brother Buddy, nephew Bill and family friend Marie Simms took a family trip to Ireland realizing another dream to see his mother’s homeland. The trip was full of laughter, pints of beer and cider, Irish music, and love.

Bernie leaves his wife of 68 years Bobbie, his daughter Cathie, Sister in law Christine, Niece/Goddaughter Joanne Miller Genevish, and his Nephew Bill Flynn from the Flynn Family. Nephews Roy and Wayne Peterson, Powel and Chuck Ennis, and Niece Dottie Hamlin from Bobbie’s family. In addition to these, a number of grand nieces, nephews, cousins, Firefighter brothers, past and present neighbors and devoted family friends. We will miss the man that helped inspire us to overcome life's obstacles. As “it isn't just what happens to you in life, it's how you deal with it.”

Although he loved the beach in the summertime, and many of the family vacations were to the Atlantic and Florida Gulf seaside, Bernie was a son of Autumn. He was born in late Autumn and died on the day of the autumnal equinox. He married his wife on an Autumn day. His daughter, brother, and the nephew who was like a son to him were all born in Autumn. Most of his favorite fishing trips with his Firemen buddies to the Outer Banks happened in early Autumn. The Chesapeake Bay Crabs he loved so much were always best in early Autumn. There are also more chances to enjoy his Redskins in Autumn than any other season. And so it is that we blow him a kiss goodbye on a soft Autumn evening, this sweetheart of a man who always, always left us smiling.

So rest easy Bernie, have someone grill that steak (medium pink and as plain as possible please) bring you that beer, and sit back in your easy chair watching the Redskins and the Washington Nationals playoff games. We will always love you and miss you already.

"When he shall die take him and cut him out into thousands of little stars and he shall make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night.” William Shakespeare

We leave you with some famous Bernie quotes that we have certainly all heard at least once throughout his life.

Favorite Bernie Quotes:

“You can easily measure a person’s true character by the way they treat the most unimportant person in the room.”

“Take time to smell the roses. Then have another beer!”

“The apples may fall…but the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!”

“When you win the lottery, don’t forget your relatives!”

“The Moon shines east, the Moon shines west, but down in the cellar the Moon shines best.”

“To be Irish, is to know the world will someday break your heart.”

In Lieu of Flowers:

If you would like to donate to one of Bernie’s favorite charitable organizations please see the information below:

Best Friends Animal Society

For over 30 years, Best Friends Animal Society has been running the nation’s largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and building effective programs that reduce the number of animals entering shelters.

In 2005 the volunteers from Best Friends were the ones you saw on the news going house to house looking for barking dogs and saving all the pets. They also helped reunite hundreds of owners with their pets after the storm.

Bernie loved all animals but particularly dogs. He was also somewhat of a dog whisperer. Dogs would walk right up to him and start chatting with him like a long lost friend.

https://bestfriends.org/

Make a memorial gift

https://secure.bestfriends.org/page/contribute/memory?_ga=2.32530876.322091842.1506384806-726685153.1506384806

IAFF – The International Association of Firefighters

IAFF – The International Association of Firefighters website has a choice of several funds. If you need assistance with navigating the website you may contact Bernie’s daughter Cathie. A description of the funds is located below:

The page for IAFF donation is located at this website and don’t forget to mention that the donation is in honor of Bernard T. Flynn

https://my.iaff.org/iDonate/Giving/ifundContainer.aspx?bBO=PA&AcctGrp=W_FND&Amount=OtherAmount&swDed=t&swTN=t&swCh=f&pgHdr=HEADER3&AltStyle=iaff-form-styles.css

Burn Fund Assistance

Burn Fund assistance may be awarded for the purpose of providing financial assistance for temporary emergency expenses when an IAFF member and/or a member of their immediate family (spouse and children) suffer a burn injury which requires admission to a burn center, resulting in a financial hardship. Disbursements shall only be granted for immediate travel, housing, food, medical supplies, services, and other similar assistance as deemed necessary.

John P. Redmond Foundation

Death, injury and illness reduction for fire fighters is a major concern of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), which has been actively involved in the health and safety problems of fire fighters. During the course of a single year, a fire fighter has greater than a 40 percent chance of being injured. In fact, fire fighters' deaths, injuries, and occupationally induced illnesses exceed the mining, construction and logging industries, each of which annually ranks among the most hazardous occupations. Clearly, the profession of fire fighting, "the world's most hazardous profession," is deserving of concentrated attention and support in order to reduce the number of injuries, illnesses and deaths.

W. H. "Howie" McClennan Scholarship

Purpose:

The W. H. "Howie" McClennan scholarship provides financial assistance for sons, daughters or legally adopted children of fire fighters killed in the line of duty planning to attend a university, accredited college or other institution of higher learning.

National Fallen Firefighter Memorial

Supports the memorial to fallen Firefighters each year. Constructed in 1981, the 7-foot stone monument features a sculpted Maltese Cross, the traditional symbol of the fire service. An engraved plaque on the monument bears a message from President Ronald W. Reagan. At the base of the monument an eternal flame symbolizes the spirit of all firefighters — past, present and future. Plaques encircling the monument list the names of the men and women of the fire service who have died in service to their communities since 1981. Whenever a firefighter dies in the line-of-duty, fire officials post a notice of the death at the monument and lower flags at the site to half-staff.