Paul Francis Flanagan

Paul Francis Flanagan was born November 15, 1940, in Boston Massachusetts. He grew up in Abington, Massachusetts, and was a 1958 graduate of Thayer Academy in Braintree. He received his BS in math and physics from the University of Miami in 1967. He was recruited by NASA at the university, and upon graduation began work at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in the Mission Planning and Analysis Division, Math Physics Branch. His work spanned the Apollo missions 7 through 12, which included being present in Mission Control during the Apollo 11 lunar landing. From 1970–1984, he was a Systems Analyst for the private aerospace engineering firm Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) at their Greenbelt, MD, Mountain View, CA, and Hampton, VA offices. In 1984, he retired from AMA due to severe chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. His only child, a daughter, Jean, was born two years later in Williamsburg, Virginia. Although he was quadriplegic since her birth, Paul was an involved, loving father and husband. Together with Catherine, his wife of 39 years, Paul built a strong and close family. He died peacefully at home at the age of 75 in their loving presence.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine M. Flanagan (of Williamsburg VA); daughter, Jean C. Flanagan and her partner Oliver M. Pattison (of Washington DC); brother, Peter J. Flanagan (of Hallandale Beach FL); Aunt, Winnifred O’Shea, and cousins, Henry Miller, Jean Valicenti, Kathleen Steele, Kevin O’Shea, Gary Manis, Laurel Manis, Pamela Shoenborn, Jean Sorgi, Jeanne Vinal, Rita Holiday, Margaret Romanowich, Bobby Vezina, Ricky Vezina, and Jim Vezina. Arrangements by Nelsen Funeral Home. Arrangements under the direction of Nelsen Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA.