Robert Joseph Flynn III

Bob was born on July 22, 1953 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Elizabeth, NJ to Kathleen (Brennan) Flynn and Robert Joseph Flynn, Jr. He has 12 years of Catholic education, graduating from St. Patrick’s High School in Elizabeth before joining the US Navy in 1971. He served aboard the USS Nitro (AE-23) from March of 1972 until July 1975. He was aboard for Nitro’s Vietnam Service, the journey through the Panama Canal, and multiple cruises to the Mediterranean Sea. He was honorably discharged as a Third-Class Petty Officer finishing a ships postal clerk.

After an April 1982 snowfall in NJ, he moved to his beloved Arizona. He had never been there, did not know anyone there and did not have a job lined up. But he did know there is no snow, and it does not get too cold in Phoenix and that was all the reasons he needed! It was love at first sight when arrived, and he would never leave! He resided in both Mesa and Chandler over the years.

Bob was an immense sports fan. His passion was baseball and baseball history. His love for the New York Mets, Arizona Cardinals, New York Rangers, Seton Hill Pirates, Arizona State University, Navy football and the J. Geils Band was exceeded only by his love of his wife Jill and most of his family!

He received enormous pleasure in watching his grandson, Drake, excel as a hockey player and grow as a wonderful young man whose parents molded him well!

He was a member of the American Legion and, since 1994 a proud member of SABR, The Society for American Baseball Research.

His varied work career included Schering-Plough in Kenilworth, NJ for five years; Scientific Atlanta in Tempe, AZ for fourteen years; and ENI in Scottsdale, AZ for fourteen years.

Together Jill and Bob enjoyed all the hound dogs that had brightened their home and lives, from April to Rookie!

Many will remember his sense of humor (well, maybe not the puns) and love of his country!

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Kathryn “Jill” Flynn, his mother Kathleen Flynn, brother Patrick of Mashpee, MA, brother Daniel of Denver, CO, step-daughter Michele Jennings of Phoenix, her husband Alan Turner, grandson Drake, four nieces, one nephew and many cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you take a kid to a ball game. You will both appreciate it!