William Emmett Flanagan, Jr.
William Emmett Flanagan, Jr. of Rockville, Maryland died at Washington Hospital Center on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 from complications following a stroke. He was born on March 13, 1946, the only child of William Emmett Flanagan, Sr. and Doris Jean Lavoie Flanagan Seib. He graduated from Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania where he enjoyed varsity swimming and went on to attend Gannon University and join the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Bill left Gannon to become a partner in his family’s business, Reliable Tailors & Drycleaners and served in the U. S. Navy Reserve. While on active duty he was stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital. In 1968, he was deployed with the Maine Corps and served in Vietnam with distinction earning the Navy Commendation Medal with combat “V”. In 1968 he married the former Carol Cole. They settled in Erie where he completed his undergraduate studies at Gannon while starting a family.
Bill was a talented hospital administrator who began his career at Hamot Medical Center in Erie using his experience from the military. He embodied servant leadership as demonstrated by his progressive advancement to Assistance Vice President, Patient Support Services at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, a position he held for ten years. While working at Holy Cross Hospital, he earned a Master’s of Science degree in Healthcare Administration. He would go on to work at Beech Brook in Cleveland, Ohio, a mental health and wellness organization, and Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, Maryland.
Throughout his life, Bill was committed to taking care of others. He volunteered as a firefighter with the Belle Valley Hose Company and was awarded “Rookie of the Year” in 1978. Following in his father’s footsteps, he became active with Alcoholics’ Anonymous in 1991 and recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety. He cared for his mother, Doris, during the last twenty-five years of her life in which she made her home with Bill and his family. In later years, Bill served as Chairman of the Board for the Episcopal Center for Children in Washington, D.C. Following the retirement of his clergy wife, he chose St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square as his parish where he served as crucifer and enjoyed the Adult Forum and music program.
Bill enjoyed the outdoors. He was a ski instructor, life guard, and sailor as a young man in Erie. In his later life, he could be found watching his backyard birds, tending to his potted plants, or taking his daily trip to the dog park with his dachshunds. He loved the city of Washington, D.C., a place he was drawn back to several times throughout his life. He was always eager to play tourist with visitors and share his fondness of the monuments and cherry blossoms. He was a man of few words, but known for his humor and did not mind embarrassing his wife and children on occasion. While fiercely loyal to his family, Bill was accepting of others and always happy to share a wink or hug and frequently complimented strangers. He took great pleasure in seeing others succeed, none more so than his wife Carol, with whom he spent over 50 years as her steadfast supporter.
Bill is survived by his wife, Carol Cole Flanagan of Rockville, Maryland; by two children, Brian E. Flanagan of Rockville and Patricia A. Flanagan of Baltimore; by his mother-in-law, Joan V. Cole and brothers-in-law, Timothy P. Cole and Jeffrey L. Cole; by his nephews, Benjamin D. Cole and Samuel P. Cole; by dear friends, Louise and Ronald Reeve and Missy Stevens; and by several cousins.
A memorial service is being held at St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. on April 1, 2017 at 3:00 pm where valet parking will be available and a coffee reception following. There will be a celebration of life at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Olney, Maryland on April 22, 2017 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Episcopal Center for Children, 5901 Utah Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20015-1616.
