Martha M. Flint

Mystic - Martha M. Flint, 88, a retired professor of literature at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, died Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, at the Avalon Health Center in Mystic.

Ms. Flint was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., the daughter of Asa Verne and Alberta (Minor) Flint. The Flints moved to Pittsfield, Mass., where she was graduated from Pittsfield High School. She attended Oberlin College in Ohio, where she received a bachelor of arts degree, and then was in the doctoral program at Columbia University, receiving a master's degree in literature.

An avid reader and expert explicator of a wide range of English literature, from Shakespeare to Emily Dickinson, Ms. Flint served on the faculty of Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, from 1967 to her retirement in 1991, as an assistant professor, chair of the humanities department, and acting academic dean. She retired to StoneRidge in Mystic, and lived for a number of years in Jupiter, Fla., as well.

She engaged with equal expertise in genealogy, tracing the Flint and Minor family tree to colonial times and beyond, and was a lifelong lover of cats, with one or more consistently underfoot.

She is survived by nephews, Alexander Calhoun Flint of Menlo Park, Calif., and Anthony Evans Flint of Brookline, Mass.; a niece, Julia Martha Flint of Burbank, Calif.; and seven grand-nephews.

Her brother, George Squire Flint, passed away the same day, Oct. 23, 2015, in New York City. Ms. Flint was also predeceased by another niece, Melissa Ann (Flint) Cappella of Largo, Fla.

A private burial will take place today, Oct. 28, 2015, at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic.

The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., Mystic, is assisting the family.

To share a message of remembrance, please visit www.dinotofuneral.com.