Obituary of Thomas F. Flynn

HACKENSACK – Thomas Francis Flynn Jr. passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 8th, 2020. He was born in NYC on November 30th, 1945 and lived with his Nana Martha on 10th Avenue, after his mother, with the same first name, died bringing him into this world. He was raised in a family of five children by his natural father Thomas Flynn Sr. and stepmother Betty (Hayden). Tom was the oldest child in the family and is survived by his brothers, Dennis and his wife Heidi, John and his wife Carole, and his little sister Marilyn (husband Steve Jankowski deceased). Tom was preceded in death by his younger brother, Kenneth, who passed in 1968. He will be greatly missed by his sister-in-laws Susan and husband Wald Zoller, Judy Samborski and also by all of his many nieces and nephews. Tom was raised in Emerson, NJ where he attended Don Bosco Preparatory HS in Ramsey, and graduated from Hackensack HS in 1963. Tom always loved music, and as a young man played the drums, guitar, and performed as a bassist with several local bands. In 1967, at the age of 19, he worked as a mail carrier in Emerson and met his bride-to-be Linda Andrea Ramirez, the 16 year-old new girl in town. It was love at first sight, and the couple was married on June 27th, 1970 at the Church of the Assumption in Emerson, NJ. At that time, Tom was working in advertising, when he proposed to two colleagues that they establish their own advertising firm. Peach Arts Advertising was created, and the business was located at 810 Main Street in Hackensack, NJ. The newlyweds became residents of Hackensack and bought a home on Summit Avenue in 1976. Tom was the creative designer and salesperson for his successful business, and his life's greatest achievement was becoming a father to his only son, Patrick Thomas Flynn, born at Hackensack Medical Center on April 4th, 1983. Tom was a "genuine" party Irishman, who always became the entertainment at any social gathering. His sense of humor was unparalleled as a jokester, and he brought much laughter to any occasion. He loved to cruise to the islands, visit family in Florida, and took a trip to Ireland to learn more about his ancestry. He was a member of the Troast Club Athletic Club in Hackensack, and for several years coached touch football. In his later years he enjoyed working in the yard and doing small home improvement projects. Tom also set-up a photographic dark room in his basement and took many artistic black & white photos which he developed and printed himself. His greatest joy was the time he spent with his grandson James Patrick Flynn who was born to son Patrick and his wife Meghann Elizabeth (John) on July 10th, 2016. James brought renewed enthusiasm to Tom's last years and they spent many hours playing together and watching cartoons. Tom is survived by his loving wife Linda, a retired Hackensack teacher and former Peach Arts Advertising Art Director. Together they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past June. A private Memorial to celebrate Tom's life will be held for family and close friends. Memorial donations may be made in Tom's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Flynn family invites you to leave a fond memory of Thomas Flynn on his Facebook page before it is memorialized.