Thomas Joseph Flynn

Thomas J. Flynn, 89, died peacefully on March 1, 2025, at his home on Cape Cod with his devoted wife, Alice, at his side. Born in Cambridge and raised in Hingham, he was the only child of the late William J. Flynn and Susan Ruth (Sullivan) Flynn.

Tom was born on November 14, 1935, and grew up in a house across from the duck pond on South Pleasant Street, an ideal location for a boy who liked to fish and explore the woods. Before graduating from high school and without telling his parents, Tom and his best friend enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in San Diego and served aboard the USS Pine Island, touring Hawaii, Okinawa, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan. A Korean War veteran, Tom spoke fondly and often of his transformative experiences in the Navy. Most importantly, he liked to say, it is where he learned discipline.

Tom was a proud member of Boston Pipefitters Local 537 for 63 years and worked on many of Boston’s most well-known institutions, including the New England Aquarium, Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard University, Mass General Hospital and Mass Eye and Ear. It was while he was in training to become a pipefitter that he spotted a pretty redhead on the Greenbush express train from Boston to Hingham. That was the start of a romance that lasted 67 years. 

Together, Tom and Alice lived in Pembroke, Hingham, Kingston, N.H, and for the last 24 years, in Yarmouth on Cape Cod. They loved to spend time together, including many years at their cottage on Prudence Island, R.I., and on treasured trips to Ireland and Bermuda. Closer to home, they would faithfully make the daily one-mile drive to Lewis Bay to watch the ferries come and go from Hyannis, binoculars always within reach. From the time he was very young, Tom felt most comfortable in nature. He loved to fish, ice fish, clam, quahog, canoe, grow tomatoes in his garden, camp and hike, cut firewood, swim, walk on the beach, and right until the end, watch the birds and squirrels at the feeder outside his window on Clover Road.

In addition to his wife, Alice, Tom is survived by three daughters: Kathleen Kelley of Medford; Susan Leighton and her husband, Paul, of Beverly; and Christine O’Brien of Manchester, N.H. He was predeceased by his son, Thomas Flynn, Jr. He was the proud Papa of Mary-Kate, Erin and Clare Kelley, Sarah and Elizabeth Leighton, and Joseph and Ben O’Brien. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. As an only child, he was grateful to grow up with many cousins, especially Bob Sullivan, who was like a brother to him.

A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, March 7, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 147 North St., Hingham. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cape & Island's Veterans Outreach Center, 247 Stevens St., Suite E, Hyannis, MA 02601.