Bernard F. Flynn Jr.

1935 - 2010

BARNEY FLYNN

In Memoriam

Bernard F. Flynn, Jr. died on October 10, 2010 in Sacramento, California, from heart failure. He was 75. Known to his family and friends as Barney, he enjoyed a full and varied life.

A Chico resident for over 30 years, Barney was born on January 21, 1935, in what was then the rural southern California town of Downey. He was the 3rd of 14 children born to Bernard F. Flynn, Sr. and Miriam R. Flynn.

He graduated from Portsmouth Priory in Portsmouth, Rhode Island in 1952 and from Harvard College in 1956. While at Harvard, he was a Spee Club member and champion rower. He later earned a MA in English from California State University, Chico and completed all but his doctoral dissertation at the University of California, San Diego.

Barney's links to Northern California began in 1945 when his father, a southern California businessman, purchased the Stanford Ranch in Vina. Barney and his siblings spent several months each summer living at the Vina Ranch until 1956, when it was sold to an order of Catholic monks. It is now known as the Abby of New Clairvaux. His father subsequently purchased several contiguous farm properties along the Sacramento River in the Gerber area.

Following his graduation from Harvard, Barney worked as a banker in New York, then returned to Northern California to manage the family's large farm properties, later known as Shasta View Farms, with his brother Vincent. While living in Gerber, Dorothy and Ken Lindauer introduced him to Ramona Rodriguez, a Red Bluff teacher. Barney and Ramona were married from 1962 to 1971, and had two children, Elena R. Flynn and Bernard F. Flynn, III. In 1964, he ran for the California State Assembly against longtime incumbent Pauline Davis.

From 1972 to 1999, Barney and Michele Shover were married. Together they bought and refurbished Chico's Little Chapman Mansion, which is the second oldest residence in Chico and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and helped to rear Barney's children. Michele remains a close friend of the family.

While in Chico, Barney started Media Access Project, a business which produced promotional materials for public interest organizations. This business combined his interests in media, technology, and social progress.

Upon the death of his brother, Vincent in a tragic private plane accident in 1986, and the death of his father shortly thereafter, Barney returned to the management of Shasta View Farms.

In 1998, Barney and John Carlon founded River Partners, a Chico non-profit corporation dedicated to conservation and habitat restoration. Utilizing Barney's innovative restoration practices, including software program he developed, River Partners has conducted numerous state and federal reforestation projects. After Barney's retirement, he remained on the Board of Directors.

In 2006, Barney's work with River Partners led to his nomination as a finalist for The Purpose Prize, a national competition that recognized his distinguished contributions as an elder "social entrepreneur," whose work advanced, not personal wealth, but social good.

Since retiring from River Partners, Barney spent most of the past eight years living in Sacramento with his partner, Nancy Plesha, and sailing in Benicia, where he kept his boat. Barney also had close relationships with Nancy's family. He was an avid, competitive sailor, and spent some of the best years of his retirement at the wheel of his sailboat, the Triton. He and Nancy enjoyed many sailing ventures. His volunteer crew, neighbors at the Marina, and fellow sailors became close friends.

Survivors include: his partner, Nancy Plesha, of Sacramento; his daughter, Elena R. Flynn of Collingswood, New Jersey; his son, Bernard Flynn, III and daughter-in-law, Donna Flynn, of Orland; his grandchildren, Arthur Vincent Flynn and Aileen Anne Flynn, also of Orland. His surviving siblings include: Stephen Flynn, Dr. Thomas Flynn of Chico; Patrick Flynn Sr., John Flynn, Rosalie Murphy, Rita Flynn, Cecilia Flynn, Michael Flynn, Brigid Flynn; sister-in-law, Mrs. Vinent (Jane) Flynn, and brother-in-law, Andre Eydt (husband of Mary Flynn Eydt). Over 30 nieces and nephews living throughout the United States also mourn his loss.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be sent to the Miriam R. and Bernard F. Flynn Scholarship Fund (#0843) at California State University, Chico, which was established by the Flynn family for the benefit of the children of Tehama County farm workers.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Newton- Bracewell Chico Funeral Home on Saturday, October 30, 2010, at 2:00 p.m.

You may send condolences to the family online at nbcfh.com.