Thomas Peter Flanagan

April 4, 1929 - July 15, 2018
Thomas Peter Flanagan, 89, of Venice, Florida left this world quietly and with dignity on Sunday, July 15, 2018. He was surrounded by the caring love of his wife, Isabelle and attended by his youngest daughter, Dr. Ellen Marie Flanagan. Tom carried a curiosity about life and his surroundings that has influenced all who knew him to dream and see farther than the eyes and mind could conceive.
Tom Flanagan was born in Newark, NJ on April 4, 1929, to Philip Flanagan and May Catherine Gillick Flanagan, both of the Irish Free State, counties Cavan and Meath. His parents came to this country through Ellis Island in 1914 and 1913 respectively and became naturalized citizens. With a bevy of Irish aunts, Philip and May raised six children to adulthood thanks to liberal doses of castor oil, oatmeal and Sunday mutton. Tom is survived by one brother, Roger Flanagan of Bridgewater, NJ. Catherine, Philip, William and Gavan passed earlier.
As a young man, Tom attended St. Benedict's High School and then Seton Hall University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1950. A good student, Tom made the Dean's List, was a member of the Academy of Science and was publicity director for The Setonian. Tom was drafted into the US Army on graduation, served in Germany as a chemist and then attended New York University. Tom was the first in his family to go to college, urged to do so by the Irish aunts.
Thomas Peter Flanagan married Isabelle Marian Hans on Saturday, November 20, 1954 in a ceremony at St. Paul's Church in Princeton, NJ. Together they raised six children in Green Brook, NJ who remember their father with love and affection and appreciate his guidance throughout their lives.
Tom Flanagan's 35 year career as a research chemist at National Starch and Chemical Company in Plainfield and Bridgewater NJ was productive. He is the holder of 20 US patents and 40 international patents related to hot melt adhesives that revolutionized the book binding industry and made possible the mass market paperback revolution. His children recall a home filled with books, some of which were wonderfully trashy pulps that were used to test the adhesives and fell to pieces as they were read.
Thomas Peter Flanagan was the author of Hot-Melt Adhesives, a chapter in The Handbook of Adhesive Bonding (Macmillan, 1973) and was recognized for his scientific achievements at the 1988 meeting of the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI).
In 1988, Tom and Isabelle retired to Venice, Florida where they explored new territory and made sure the water came in at the jetty every day. Tom tamed a succession of egrets he named Big Bird, by feeding them chicken hearts each morning at the front door. Thomas Peter Flanagan built balsa wood planes, crafted wooden model boats, collected bugs and seeds for his grandchildren and loved to work with stamps.
Thomas Flanagan is survived by his wife, Isabelle, their children and spouses, Maureen Susan Flanagan and Edwin Battistella; Michael Thomas Flanagan and Patrice Kelly; Terese Clare Flanagan and David de Florio; Ellen Marie Flanagan and Jay Cheesborough; Paul Joseph Flanagan; and Patrick Francis Flanagan and Priya Balachandran. Tom and Isabelle's grandchildren, Kevin and Ryan Flanagan; Naima de Florio and Nastassja de Florio Seigars, Joe Seigars and their children Achiva, Joseph, Isabella, Jacob and Shawn; Gavan James and Ngoc Pham James and Kiron James and Danielle Miller; Angus and Garrett Flanagan; and Kali Flanagan will miss their grandfather's and great grandfather's kind laughter and good smile.
A celebration to honor Thomas Peter Flanagan's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to your local hospice program in recognition of Tidewell Hospice's care in Tom's last days.
In Loving Remembrance