Bernard F. Flynn

BARNEY FLYNN

In Memoriam

Bernard F. Flynn, Jr. died on October 10, 2010 in Sacramento, California, from heart failure. He was 75.

Barney's links to Northern California began in 1945 when his father, a southern California businessman, purchased the Stanford Ranch in Vina. Barney spent summers at Vina until 1956, when it was sold to an order of Catholic monks. It is now known as the Abby of New Clairvaux. His father later purchased several farm properties in the Gerber area.

Following his graduation from Harvard in 1956, Barney worked as a banker in New York, then returned to Northern California to manage the family's farm properties, later known as Shasta View Farms, with his brother Vincent. Barney and Ramona Rodriguez Flynn 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.

From 1972 to 1999, Barney and Michele Shover were married, and refurbished Chico's Little Chapman Mansion.

Upon the death of his brother Vincent 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, which employs over 30 people.

Since retiring, 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, the Triton.

Survivors include his partner Nancy Plesha, daughter Elena R. Flynn, son Bernard F. Flynn, III, nine surviving siblings and over 30 nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Newton Bracewell funeral home in Chico on Oct. 30, 2010, at 2:00 pm. A full obituary is avail. at www.nbcfh.com.