Linda Kay Flick

Linda K. Flick, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, friend, colleague, teacher and mentor, passed away on July 26, 2023. Linda was born on February 1, 1948, in her cherished hometown of Elmore, Ohio. She died in her adopted and equally cherished home of Washington DC, surrounded by the love and in the presence of her family and friends.

Upon graduation from Harris-Elmore High School, Linda enrolled as a freshman at Heidelberg College, founded in 1850 to serve the German population of Ohio. Perhaps drawn there by the German heritage of her parents Alfred and Rowena Flick, Linda spent four years learning on a beautiful, tree-lined campus now on the National Register of Historic Places. A college in the Liberal Arts tradition, Heidelberg sought to “educate persons who can act effectively and with integrity in a world of change.” In Linda Flick, their mission was met with great success.

The world in the late 1960’s was changing, and Linda was determined to be a part of that progress. With little more than excitement, drive and ambition, Linda arranged a ride to Washington DC with family members and promptly checked into a room at the YWCA. A journey in public service, political activism, community engagement and lifelong friendships followed.

Soon she was balancing the beginnings of a professional career with engagement in the civil rights and social justice movements, and in protests opposing the Vietnam War. Her fierce love of public service eventually led her to important roles at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Linda worked for over 25 years at the Agency, focusing on enforcement of critical regulations and monitoring compliance of vital environmental standards. She was instrumental in enforcing standards regarding asbestos in schools, and later moved to a leadership role in EPA’s Enforcement Training Institute. Linda retired as a senior executive in the Office of Planning, Analysis and Accountability where she worked to ensure the EPA’s accountability for providing efficient and effective service to the nation.

Linda was an active member of Foundry United Methodist Church, and taught pre-kindergarten and kindergarten Sunday School there for more than 40 years. She served as a volunteer on many committees and Ministries through the years, including the Parish Relationships Committee. She was an especially popular and dedicated member of the congregation.

The seventh child in a family of eight siblings, Linda was preceded in death by brothers and sisters Irene Johnson, Leslie Flick, Carolyn Heminger and Dennis Flick. She is survived by brothers Karl and Ronald Flick, and her sister Beverly Johnson. She was a much-loved aunt to 20 nieces and nephews.

Linda’s passion for public service and political activism drew her to the Nation’s Capital, and she was a consummate Washingtonian, enjoying the city’s citizens, culture and beauty for over 50 years.

In keeping with her wishes to return to the Ohio home of her youth, Linda will be interred with other family at Harris-Elmore Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Foundry United Methodist Church online at www.foundryumc.org/give or by mail to Foundry UMC, 1500 16th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036.