Thomas J. Flanagan

Thomas J. Flanagan, 66, died Nov. 30, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital after a series of illnesses. Tom was born in Manchester, NH, the son of Francis X. and Geraldine (Walsh) Flanagan. He attended Phillips Academy Andover and Tufts University, where he played rugby, captained the lacrosse team and met his wife of 44 years, Kate (Mierzwinski). After graduating Tom spent several years working with developmentally disabled young people before entering Suffolk University Law School. While at Suffolk he served as a member of the law review. After passing the Bar, Tom began his legal career at Wiggin & Dana in New Haven. He went on to work at several large corporations, but his happiest years as a lawyer were spent serving as a volunteer attorney at Connecticut Legal Services of Waterbury, a nonprofit legal-aid agency.

A lifelong New Englander, Tom was an avid but anxious Red Sox fan who rarely watched a game, preferring to follow his team from a safe distance through box scores and internet updates. He enjoyed many sports and served as a patient coach for several years in the Eddie Sheehan Baseball League in New Haven. Tom was a history buff and followed politics closely, and he enjoyed a good debate on any topic, especially if it related to the concept of free will.

Besides his wife, Tom leaves behind three children, who he called his “greatest work,” Molly (Steven), Francis Xavier (Laura) and Timothy (Danielle), as well as his brother Mark, sister Ann Ryan, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was the proud grandpa of five wild and handsome boys, Liam, Jamie, Reid, Patrick, and Finn, and the “Cram-pa” of one precious granddaughter, Lily.

Tom battled depression all his life. Please honor his memory by treating people with mental illnesses with kindness and compassion. If you wish to make a donation in Tom’s name, consider a gift to Connecticut Legal Services (www.ctlegal.org).

A celebration of Tom’s life will take place from 5-7pm on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022 at Prospect Memorial /The Palmerie Family Funeral Home, 122 Waterbury Rd., Prospect. Friends will be invited to share favorite stories and memories of Tom beginning at 6:30pm.

You are invited to share a fond memory, photo and words of comfort for his family on his Tribute Wall on this website.

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