On Monday, Oct. 10, Leo President Dan McGrath and I took a group of Leo students to the Columbus Day Parade. We were marching with the Big Shoulders Fund, a private charity that supports inner-city Catholic schools and eases the financial strain on families who want their sons and daughters to receive the best education in Chicago.
I drove three of the guys to their homes in South Holland, Brainerd and Ashburn. The second drop-off was between 87th and 88th & May Streets—the very block that was home to arguably the most successful graduate of the Leo High School Class of 1957, Donald F. Flynn (1939-2011). I drove my last charge home and headed home myself. As I walked in the door I received a call from Mr. Bill Plunkett, who had worked with Don Flynn at Waste Management. “I have some very sad news, Pat. Don Flynn passed away in his sleep last night.”
Mr. Plunkett and I talked for some time. I related the stories I had heard about Don from the great Bob Foster ’58, the man who kept Leo alive by dint of his heroic presence alone. Bob told of a game against Gordon Tech. Face guards were new to football, and very few Catholic League teams sported them. The Rams had a few; Leo had none. Don Flynn, a guy Foster said “transformed from sweet and studious into the Incredible Hulk the minute he stepped into the locker room,” had a broken arm and was wearing a plaster cast.
Flynn was a rugged two-way lineman, and at one point in the game a Gordon Tech kid begged the referee to do something about the madman lined up over him—“He’s going to kill me!” The referee, perhaps the immortal Frank Strocchia replied, “This is the Catholic League, kid. Kill him back.” A few plays later the same referee stopped play and signaled the Gordon Tech sideline to take the kid out. His brand new face guard was not only in serious disrepair, it was caked and crusted with mud, blood, sod and plaster—lots of plaster.
Don Flynn’s college career was cut short by a knee injury, so he transferred to Marquette and lit the business world afire after graduating. Bob Foster went on to play for Purdue, then returned to Leo as a history teacher and coach. Thirty years later, after the Irish Christian Brothers departed, Foster took the helm of his beloved school when it needed a great deal of help. Along with Frank Considine ’39 and Andy McKenna ’47, Don Flynn buckled up the monetary and moral chinstraps.
Don Flynn’s generosity covered payrolls, pumped in tuition support and funded capital improvements. He had made what many would consider a fortune in business, but that was only money. Don Flynn’s fortune was made on that block on May, between 87th and 88th streets, at St. Kilian’s, in the classrooms of Leo, and on the glass, dirt and cinder-strewn turf of Leo’s Shewbridge Field.
I was privileged to meet Don Flynn a few times. Like every Leo Man I have known, he was sweet-natured, witty and uncompromisingly generous. And he suffered no fools gladly. Like Bob Foster and all Leo Men, Don Flynn looked for no tributes; therefore, it is important to give tribute to the team. Foster petitioned Terry Peterson, then the Alderman of 17th Ward, to have 79th & Sangamon designated “Don Flynn Way.” So it is.
Mr. Flynn is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Beverly; sons Kevin and Brian; and five grandchildren. Mr. Flynn also counted Dereck Millington, a former employee who has lived with the Flynn family for nearly 15 years, as a surrogate son.
In memory of Don Flynn, Heavenly Harps are playing the Leo Fight Song:
Oh, when those Leo men fall into line,
And their colors black and orange are unfurled,
You see those brawny stalwarts wait
The sign,
And then their might against the foe Is hurled
For then the foe shall feel the lions’ might,
And spirit of our team’s attack,
For with every heart and hand,
We will fight as one strong band,
For the honor of the orange and black!
RAH! RAH! RAH!
Patrick Hickey
Director of Development
Leo High School