Thomas M. Flynn

Thomas M. Flynn, a Torrance resident of 45 years, passed away on February 23, 2010 after a hard fought battle with lung cancer. He was born in Chicago, IL on July 10, 1931 to Michael and Helen (Schafer) Flynn and was the younger brother to Mary Lou. After his father passed way, his mother married Charles Kieran and he became an older brother to sisters Mary Ann and Patricia "Tishie". He attended grade school at Our Lady of Peace and was an extremely proud graduate of Mt. Carmel High School. He followed their football team for these past 60 years after he graduated. He attended the University of Notre Dame and was a life long Fighting Irish fan. He finished his education at De Paul University and Loyola University of Chicago. Tom joined the United States Marine Corps in 1952 and served with the 1st Marine division during the Korean War. He truly was one of The Few…The Proud. After the 9/11 attacks, he began to wear his globe and anchor pins in honor of his fellow Marines.

Tom married Eileen Gatliff on December 26, 1955. They were married almost 50 years, until her death in 2005. They lived in Chicago until they moved to California in 1960, eventually settling to Torrance in 1965. Tom spent his career working in the drywall contracting business beginning as an accountant for USG and went on to own and operate Specialty Contractors. After his retirement, Tom became a dedicated blood and platelet donor and made over 200 aphaeresis donations to the American Red Cross. He said about his many donations "It's better to give than to receive!" Tom loved to travel, visiting many places around the world including Ireland, Africa, Australia, Europe, Central America and China. He was also an active member of St. James Catholic Church and the Catholic Golden Age Group. He especially loved their trips to Laughlin!

Tom is survived by his heartbroken family. He was a loving father to Barbara Flynn & Claude Posilovich of Nokomis, FL, and Marypat & Joseph Peña of Burbank, CA. He was a proud "Pop Pop" to his grandchildren Matthew, Amanda, & Brian Basnight and Kyle & Molly Peña. He was the "one and only" brother to his sisters Mary Ann Gorman of Chicago, IL and Tishie Haavig, of Orland Park, IL. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Lou Brosch of Excelsior, MN. Tom was also brother-in-law to Ernie Brosch, Ed Haavig, Jeanne Gatliff, Grace Doig, Audrey Smallwood, Kathleen Wood and Anne & Bayard Kurth. He was also "Uncle Tom" to over 50 nieces and nephews.

If you can join us for the viewing and rosary, please feel free to wear Notre Dame apparel in Tom's honor. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Beaver Island, MI, where Tom and Eileen "Leany" will be surrounded by family members who have gone to Heaven ahead of them. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society for lung cancer research or to Mt. Carmel High School, Chicago, IL.