Martin J. Flannery

Martin J. Flannery of Levittown passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and loved ones, Friday, June 10, 2016, at Penn Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia. He was 77. Marty was born in 1938 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. During high school he became an expert on weight training and won the Jr. Mr. New York City bodybuilding competition. He met Steve Reeves (of Hercules fame) in Miami and managed his gym over one summer. Concurrently, Marty was the lead singer in a rock and roll band called The Bell Notes and recorded "I've Had it", which made its way to #6 on the top 100 Billboard. After high school he scored in the top percentile of the military aptitude test and was enlisted into the U.S. Navy by Admiral William "Bull" Halsey on a New York TV show. Marty's nickname in the Navy was "Moose" and he was one of the first Special Forces trainers for the Navy and the Marines. His training techniques evolved into training for the elite Navy Seals. He was on the Navy Wrestling Team and won an All Star unlimited wrestling competition. While in the military he fell in love and married a vivacious brunette, blue-eyed athlete, Suzanne Stone, who died in 1968 in a hot air balloon event at Flannery's restaurant in Penndel. Ten years later Marty fell instantly in love with Kathryn "Kathy" (Cavallo) and enjoyed almost 40 years together until his passing. Marty had several careers as a lithographer, corrections officer, deputy sheriff and operating engineer. He continuously worked out with weights and enjoyed training others. His hobby was building bigger and better classic cars and he was a Ford guy. He owed fairlanes, galaxys, mustangs and shelbys. Simultaneously Marty started another band in the 1970s called "Cornerstone" and performed throughout Bucks County, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Marty was predeceased in death by his Mother, Frances Flannery. He is survived and will be sadly missed by his wife Kathy, his daughter Cathie Fitzgerald, his granddaughter Danielle, his mother-in-law Elisabeth Lynn, sister-in-law Linda and Michael Stolarz, brother-in-law Phillip and Sandra Cavallo, sister-in-law Stephanie Egan, nieces and nephews Michael and Merve Stolarz, Alex Stolarz, Gianni and Nathalie Cavallo, Sophie, Ben and Lilly Egan. Marty will also be sadly missed by his best friend Steve Strathie. Unfortunately, Cathie's husband, David Fitzgerald, passed away suddenly 8 hours earlier on the same day. Therefore the family will have a joint viewing and internment. Relatives and friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 20 at the Beck Givnish Life Celebration Home, 7400 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19055. A viewing will also be held on Tuesday, June 21 from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, June 21 at 9:30 a.m. at Queen of the Universe Church, 2443 Trenton Road, Levittown, PA 19056. Immediately following the mass, Interment will take place consecutively at 11:00 a.m. at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery with a procession of vintage classic cars. To share your fondest memories of Marty, please visit www.lifecelebration.com 1-800-Givnish.