John Durkin Flanagan - Obituary

ohn Durkin Flanagan, 87, of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, December 20th, 2019. Born on July 18th, 1932, in Warsaw, NY, Jack (as he was known to family and friends) was the oldest of five siblings which included sisters Mary, Katy, and Anne, and brother Michael. Born to John and Mary Flanagan, the family relocated to Auburn, NY in 1943, where Jack attended Holy Family Grade School. While there, Jack played various sports but was best in Basketball, where he made the varsity basketball team during his Junior and Senior years. Jack graduated from Holy Family in June of 1949 at the age of 17. After graduation, Jack enlisted in the Navy, beginning his term of service just two days after the start of the Korean War and was sent to Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois for basic training. After successfully completing boot camp, Jack spent a year-and-a-half on station at Pearl Harbor where he worked tirelessly to be reassigned to duty in Korea. In 1952, He was assigned to the USS Whiting, a tender based in Korea for seaplanes serving reconnaissance duty during the war. Jack served almost two years in Korea before being transferred to San Francisco where he was honorably discharged from the Navy in April, 1954. Shortly after returning home, Jack met and began to date Angela Ciampaglia, also of Auburn. They married in October of 1955 and during this time Jack began attending Morrisville Agricultural and Technical College under the GI Bill, graduating in 1957 with an AA degree in agricultural studies. While working for the NY State Department of Agricultural, Jack was recruited to join a new department within the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC. With Angela’s support, the decision was made to relocate the family, which now numbered four boys, to Capitol Heights, MD and later Annapolis, MD, where they settled permanently. In 1984, Jack was promoted to Division Chief of his branch within the USDA, leading the division for the next ten years until his retirement in 1994. Shortly after his retirement, wife Angela requested he find something to do as he was driving her crazy hanging out at home all day. Wisely heeding his wife’s request, Jack joined the US Naval Academy Visitors Center as a tour guide and worked part time there until 2019, where he led tours on the Academy grounds and then eventually served as a manager within the center. During their time in Annapolis, Jack and Angela were supporters of Navy Boosters, actively involved in the local American Order of Hibernians, and Navy Football season ticket holders. They loved their adopted city and developed many lifelong friendships in the area. Jack is survived by his sisters Mary and Anne, brother Michael, sons Christian (Mary Beth), Michael (LuAnn), and David (Julianne). Jack was also the proud Grandpa to nine grandchildren: Andrew, Samantha, John, Paige, Adam, Mikaela, Rex, Marleigh, Ray, and great grandson Jack. Jack was preceded in death by wife Angela and oldest son, Jack. Friends are invited to celebrate Jack's life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Sunday, December 29 from 2 to 5 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 Bestgate Rd., Annapolis, MD on Monday, December 30 at 10:30 am. interment St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery in Annapolis, MD. Condolences may be made by using the Memory Wall link on this page.