Robert Thomas Flynn, 78, of Greentree, Pennsylvania, formerly of Beaver, passed away peacefully at home on April 15th, 2024. Bob was born in Braddock, PA, on May 1st, 1945, son of the late John and Mary Flynn. He was raised in and attended primary school in Beaver, PA before graduating from Duquesne University, class of 1967. Bob served as a lieutenant in the Navy during Vietnam, where he grew a fondness for the night sky and amateur astronomy—a love he fostered within his children and grandchildren, in addition to his genre-spanning and well-curated taste in music. He later worked for the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation as a counselor and supervisor for 35 years before retiring in 2003, sent off with a proper retirement party at the 19th Hole, a spot where he always had a corner stool and a friend waiting to clink a glass.
Bob is survived by his wife of nearly 20 years, Jayme Flynn, son Patrick (Karen) Flynn, son Colin (Cathy) Flynn; and stepchildren Julie (Sean) Rucker, Matthew (Mandy) Phillips, Adam (Clara) Phillips, David (Ashley) Dickey, and Christine (Joseph Hinchey) Dickey and grandchildren Colby, Nora, Carson, Madison, Turner, Parker, Sawyer, Maddox, Zoey, Jackson, Sidney, and Camille; sister Beverly (Tom) Lodovico, brother Jack Flynn, and is preceded in death by his brother Bill, former wife Judi (2014), and best friend Frank Cascio.
Bob and Jayme spent a decade realizing their Florida dream, enhanced by their fondness for Jimmy Buffet who provided the soundtrack to their beach life of bicycling, top-down cruising, bushels of oysters on the waterfront, attending Pirates spring training, and eagerly receiving family and friends visiting from the cold north. After they moved back to Pittsburgh in 2014, Bob was reunited with his beloved Pittsburgh Penguins and Buccos. A fan until the end, Bub was a hopeful realist about the possibility of playoff baseball in the ‘Burgh each season, and looked forward to watching every Pens matchup when he wasn’t busy attending his grandchildren’s games.
The loyalty he showed through sports fandom was thematic to his life and his friendships—Bob had a cherished network of friends from all chapters of his life and an impressive way of meaningfully keeping up with each of them. Through these relationships and many memories, his affable, steady, calm nature will live on.
Visitation will be at Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, on Friday, April 19th from 2-4pm and 6-8pm, followed by prayers, where we will say goodbye to our Bob, Pop, Bubba, Grandbob, friend, and Dad, and celebrate a life well lived, though not long enough. Sláinte—it’s 5 o’clock somewhere.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Singing For Change in Bob’s honor (www.singingforchange.org).