Alan F. Flynn, Jr.

Alan F. Flynn Jr. of Asheville, NC passed away on August 30, 2017, with complications related to Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife, Emi Flynn, with whom he traveled the world until Parkinson’s brought travel to an end. Alan is also survived by his son, Alan F. Flynn III, and wife, Jill Flynn, of Charlotte, N.C.; and daughter, Sarah Akemi Flynn, and husband, Dr. Hien Do, of San Jose, CA. Alan was proud of his five grandchildren: Jessica, Lindsay and Matthew Flynn; Meiko and Koji Flynn-Do. He was predeceased by his sister, Jane Blackmer Chance, and parents, Alan and Helen Flynn. On his maternal side, Alan was descended from several pilgrims aboard the Mayflower. After boarding school at The Governor’s Academy, Byfield, MA, Alan graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and Captain of the varsity soccer team. He earned his master’s degree from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. He also studied at the University of Hawaii’s East-West Center and the International Christian University in Tokyo. In 1954, he joined the United States Marine Corps and retired as 1st Lieutenant in 1958. In the 1960s, Alan taught at the Canadian Academy in Kobe, Japan where he met his wife and their children were born. Alan and Emi were married for 53 years. Alan taught Japanese history and was Head of Kingswood-Oxford Middle School in West Hartford, CT. From 1975 to 1991, Alan was Headmaster of Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich, RI. Nine years after his retirement The Alan F. Flynn Jr. Academic Center was built and dedicated in his honor. Also, Alan served as Headmaster of St. Michael’s School Country Day School in Newport RI, from 1992 to 1998. Alan was a member of Rotary Clubs of East Greenwich and Newport, RI. He served as president of the East Greenwich Rotary Club and was recognized with 7 Paul Harris Fellowships. He was a charter member of a special Rotary group, with members from Rotary Clubs in RI, MA, Asia and Europe, dedicated to bringing clean water, health, and literacy to Cambodia. Alan visited the Children’s Hospital in Seam Reap, Cambodia founded to help children from rural villages with diseases and illnesses caused by polluted water. Among Alan’s passions was traveling in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and throughout Asia, South America, Australia and Africa. Alan loved the ocean and spent as much time as possible on Martha’s Vineyard at the family cottage built by his parents. His children and grandchildren continue to enjoy the island every summer. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of his life at the St Giles Chapel, at Deerfield Retirement Community on Sept 4 at 10 a.m. Donations in Alan’s name may be made to: First Congregational UCC, Homeless Ministries, P.O. Box 3211, Asheville, NC, 28801 or St. Giles Memorial Garden, 1617 Hendersonville Rd. Asheville NC 28803. A memorial service in Rhode Island is planned at a later date to be determined.