Roger Flynn
Of Squirrell Hill, 79, passed peacefully at home on June 6, 2018. Born May 11, 1939 in Chicago, IL to Rose (Malec) and Robert K. Flynn Sr. Dr. Flynn graduated Villanova University in 1962 with a B.A. in Philosophy and Mathematics; Illinois Institute of Technology in 1973 with an M.S. for Teachers in Computer Science; and University of Pittsburgh in 1978 with a Ph.D, in Information Science. In 1974, Rog and his wife, Ida Moretti Flynn, moved to Pittsburgh to pursue his Ph.D. studies, teach at the University, and eventually co-found Pitt’s Undergraduate Information Science Program, serving as Director from 1979-1983. He authored the textbook An Introduction to Information Science, published in 1987, and served as editor-in-chief of a four-volume encyclopedia Computer Science published in 2002. While he earned many awards throughout his career, Professor Flynn loved teaching the most. He found great fulfillment in guiding students in their education, including through voluntary instruction at Western Penitentiary with Pitt’s information science degree program. Dad swam daily, at Pitt or the JCC, and through his sense of humor and skillful storytelling, he readily made new friends and delighted family, and always made time to visit or write. His generosity, love for his family, and penchant for salt were unparalleled. Roger was predeceased by his beloved wife Ida and only brother Robert, and is survived by his two sons, Anthony Flynn (wife Gina Godfrey) of Pittsburgh and Christopher (wife Kelly) Flynn of Madison, WI as well as his four cherished grandchildren Flynn and Zedueh Godfrey and Emerson and Logan Flynn, and numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews throughout the United States and Canada. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 25th after which Dr. Flynn will be interred in Homewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions are encouraged to fund the Ida M. Flynn Memorial Award, contact the University of Pittsburgh, Office of Institutional Advancement, (412) 624-5800, http://www.giveto.pitt.edu/; or to fund the Epilepsy Foundation of VT, (802) 775-1686, http://epilepsyvt.org/.