Obituary of Michael T. Flynn

Michael T. Flynn, a social worker with mental health agencies throughout Chautauqua County over the course of a 35-year career, died Friday (Dec. 15, 2023) in his Lakewood home after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81. Michael was born on Feb. 11, 1942 in Jamestown, the son of the late Daniel and Winifred (Griffin) Flynn, and was a Lakewood resident for most of his life. He was a graduate of Southwestern Central High School, where he served as president of the student council in his senior year. He then graduated from Jamestown Community College and the University at Buffalo, majoring in psychology. Michael's social work career began in 1965 with what was then called the Chautauqua County Welfare Department. After earning a master's degree in social work from UB in 1969, he took a job as the school social worker in the Warren, Pa. school district, followed by a three-year stint at Southwestern, where he was the district's first social worker. He then worked in the Chautauqua County Mental Health Department and held various mental health positions with the state of New York. He retired in 2000 but continued with his commitment to helping people by serving as a hospice volunteer for 14 years, comforting people in their final days. He twice was honored as volunteer of the year for Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care. Long active at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Jamestown, Michael served on the church council, was a head usher and led a group of men who took care of needed repairs to its building. In his spare time, he liked nothing better than tinkering with any mechanical device that needed fixing. Family members sometimes said he missed his calling and should have been a mechanical engineer. Reflecting on his life both professionally and as a volunteer, Michael said he had 50 years of working with people in crisis. "I am honored," he said, "to have been a part in helping people make a difference in their lives." He is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Ada Karin Carlson, whom he met while they were students at JCC; two daughters, Molly (Alex Howard) and Elizabeth (Matthew) Homan; two grandsons, Samuel and William Homan; one sister, Mary Gokey; and two brothers, Thomas (Susan) and William (Noreen). He was preceded in death by his youngest brother, Patrick. A memorial service will be held at 1 PM Friday, Dec. 22nd at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Falconer. Friends may call from 2 to 4 PM on Thursday, Dec. 21st at the Lind Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care.