Mr. Ellis Dean Flinn

Ellis Dean Flinn was born on December 22, 1934 in Woodward, Iowa, and died on April 6, 2013, with his family by his side. Ellis is survived by his wife of 55 years, JoAnne; by his son, Kelton Flinn and his wife Colette Hall, of Charlottesville; and daughter Keri Flinn Smallie, of Richmond, VA; his grandchildren, Benson and Shannon Smallie; and his sister, Doris Cavanaugh. Ellis was the first in his family to attend college, Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. After college, he served in the U.S. Army. He married JoAnne Engel at the chapel on Fort Meade on August 19, 1957. After his service, they settled in Pittsfield, MA, where both children were born. He became the youngest office that Berkshire Life Insurance Company ever had. The family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1967, where Ellis was a life insurance actuary with the Wyatt Company. Ellis was a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. One of his major clients was the Knights of Columbus and in 1982, he and JoAnne moved to New Haven, CT, when Ellis became Deputy Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus and C.O.O of their insurance program. As Deputy Supreme Knight, he and JoAnne travelled to the Holy Land, Rome, and to many other fascinating places. They met Pope John Paul II on several occasions, and Ellis was awarded the Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great by the Pope for conspicuous service to the Catholic Church. They also met Mother Theresa. Ellis was truly dedicated to the Knights of Columbus and after he retired and moved to Charlottesville, he was very active with the Council at the University. He loved working with and mentoring the young men. Ellis loved to travel and took the family on many spectacular trips, including to China. When the grandchildren were young, he would annually take the whole family on a cruise. A funeral mass is scheduled for 11:00am, Thursday, April 18, 2013 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.