WESTBOROUGH- John Joseph Flynn of Westborough, MA, formerly of Centerville, MA passed away on Monday, April 9th,2012. John was born on August 20th 1924 in Boston ,MA to the late Cornelius and Winifred Flynn. John grew up in a loving Irish family in Roxbury, MA along with 5 brothers Bartholomew, Thomas, Neil, Nicolas, and Edward and attended both Mission grammar school and Mission High School where he was the captain of the football team. Following graduation he enlisted and served with honor in the U.S. Marine Corps and was part of the occupying force in Japan during World War 2. John also served a second time in the Marine Corps during the Korean conflict. John was married 65 years to his high school sweetheart Ruthe Doherty in 1947. John was very active in the United Auto Workers all his working life. John started as a union organizer and finished his career as Regional Director for the Northeast. A position he held with honor until his retirement.
John was a long time member of the Democratic National Committee and was elected Connecticut Democrat of the Year for 1989 and received the UAW Walther Reuther Social Justice Award for 2011, one of the highest awards from the UAW
John’s passions were Family, God, Country, the UAW and the Boston Red Sox.
John is survived by his wife Ruthe, their four children John ( his wife Patti) from Kent, Ct., Denise ( her husband Tom)Rudy from Fairport, N.Y. – Brian ( his wife Carol) from Bradenton, FL. And Donna (her husband George) Goodliffe from Westborough, MA.
He is also survived by 9 Grand Children. Kevin Flynn,(his wife Cathy) Glen Ridge, N.J. Kristan ( her husband Jeff) Domanski from Beacon, N.Y. ,Ryan ( his wife Julia) Flynn from Santa Fe, NM, Erica (her husband Brian) Foster from Bradenton FL., Scott Flynn( his wife Katie) from Parrish FL., Shaun Rudy from Chicago, IL, Shannon Rudy from Atlanta, Ga, Brian Goodliffe and Brendan Goodliffe from Westborough, MA. He is also survived by 5 Great grand children – Mikayla and Juliana Flynn, Sofia Domanski and Caroline and Matthew Foster.
He will always be remembered for his playful sense of humor, his shining blue eyes and mischievous Irish smile.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 13, at 10:30 A.M. in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St., Westborough. Burial, with military honors, will follow in St. Luke’s Cemetery.
Calling hours at the Rand-Harper-Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., are Thursday, April 12, from 5 to 8 P.M.
Donations in his memory may be made to the John J. Flynn Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Westborough High School, 90 West Main St., Westborough, MA 01581. ATTN: Scholarship.
westboroughfuneralhome.com