Thomas Wayne Flynn

AUBURN – Thomas Wayne Flynn, 81, a longtime resident of Auburn, passed away on Dec. 31, 2022, after a short but tenacious battle with heart failure. A true warrior, he refused to give up or be defined by his illness and fought valiantly until the very end.

He was born in Lewiston on June 23, 1941 to Lawrence “Tubby” Flynn and Katherine McIlroy Flynn. The youngest of five sons, he looked up to and considered his older brothers Lawrence “Larry” Flynn, Robert “Bob” Flynn, Brian Flynn Sr. and James “Jim” Flynn, all predeceased, to be his best friends – a belief he held throughout his life.

Tom spent most of his childhood in Monmouth where he had fond memories of playing football on the village green in the shadow of Cumston Hall. He got his first job at the age of 9 working as a caddy at Cobbossee Colony Golf Course. A gifted musician, he always said that he grew up with a trumpet in his hand. A child prodigy, he began playing at the age of 8. Accompanied by his mother, a concert pianist, the two of them traveled the state to entertain at various events, including an invitation to play for the Governor. This led to a scholarship to study at New England Music Camp, an early experience that made a lasting impression on his life.

President of the graduating class of 1959 at Lewiston High School, Tom also served as President of the Key Club, President of the Choral Society, President of the Glee Club, and sang Operetta, starring in multiple theater productions. Captain of the State Championship Football Team, he played halfback and was Lewiston’s leading scorer. His jersey, number 25, was hung on the Edward Little statue in Auburn by his teammates as a warning for the upcoming Battle of the Bridges football game between the two rival schools. As promised, LHS walloped ELHS (26-6) and Tom was awarded the Geiger-Normand Dionne Trophy for being the outstanding player of the game. He was named to the All-State Football team and received an honorable mention on the National High School All-Star Football Squad.

An exceptional multi-sport athlete, Tom also excelled at hockey and baseball. He went on to attend the University of Maine at Orono where he was recruited for football and baseball. While an injury prevented him from playing football, he became the baseball team’s starting shortstop, earning his “M” letter.

While at Orono, he also found his love of literature and Pat’s Pizza. Throughout high school and college, he worked as a counselor at summer camps, including Wavus Camp for Boys on Damariscotta Lake.

Although Tom was a natural leader, talented musician and outstanding athlete, what he was most well known for among his friends and classmates was his warm and engaging personality, his genuine kindness and his helpfulness. Throughout his life, Tom made friends wherever he went.

After leaving college, he gained local notoriety as the lead singer for Maine’s premier college band, The Citations, who frequently played at Serenity Hill in Naples during the ’60s. He wrote and recorded several songs including “Take Me” and “Phantom Freighter”, a song he co-wrote with his brother, Jim, and later won a Maine Country Music Award for.

It was at Serenity Hill that he met the love of his life, Arlene Davis, a pretty redhead from Auburn. The two were married on March 7, 1964, and over their 58 years together raised two daughters. After their wedding, the couple relocated to Up-State New York where Tom began a lifelong career in the educational sales industry.

During the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in the 98th Infantry Training Division of Rochester, N.Y. He served his country for six years with the rank of sergeant where his mission was preparing and training thousands of soldiers for combat. He was also the leader of his platoon.

In the early ’70s, they returned to Maine and settled in Auburn, calling it home for the remainder of his life.

A dedicated long distance runner and early pioneer of the sport, Tom was a proud member and past president of the Androscoggin Harriers Running Club. For nearly two decades he trained for and ran in countless road races and completed 10 marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 1983 with a finish time of 3:20:10. He was honored to have his wife, children, father, brother Brian and nephew BG there to see him climb Heartbreak Hill and cross the finish line in Copley Square, which he described as the single greatest athletic accomplishment of his life. When he wasn’t running, Tom enjoyed spending time on the golf course and went on to win a Maine Amateur Golf Tournament at Springbrook Golf Club.

A true romantic, he loved writing poetry, singing, literature, classical music, antiques, textiles, chess, long drives through the country, family history and genealogy – he was very proud of his Scottish heritage and Irish ancestry.

A natural performer, Tom sang and played his trumpet for many years at numerous venues and events across the state. In fact, he rarely missed a day of practice in over 72 years. He also starred in the Community Little Theater’s production of “Mame” and served as the lead trumpet in the Oxford Hills Community Broadway Musical, “Swing”. Tom was also an avid reader and book collector, he loved the art of the hunt and spent many hours in search of rare and first-edition books. Over the years he amassed a collection that he was quite proud of and would put most small bookstores to shame.

He had a big heart and was incredibly loyal to his family. If you found yourself in a jam, Tom was your “go-to” guy. He considered his sons-in-law his own sons and relished his time with them, playing golf, watching ball games, camping in the White Mountains, taking part in bocce and Jarts tournaments and other shenanigans at the family camp on Taylor Pond, which he loved. He also looked forward to his regular trips south to spend time with family in Georgia and at the beach in WaterColor, Fla., as well as attending baseball games at Turner Field and Truist Park cheering for the Atlanta Braves.

Tom is survived by his wife, Arlene Davis Flynn; his daughter, Kathleen Flynn Bartle and son-in-law, Brad Bartle, and granddaughters, Hannah and Grace Bartle of Peachtree Corners, Ga.; and his daughter, Erin Flynn and son-in-law, Shawn Rice, and granddaughter, Acadia Flynn-Rice of Auburn. He will be forever loved and missed.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Nurse Jeremy on SCU 1 at Maine Medical Center who went above and beyond to help care for Tom during his time there, as well as the staff at Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, particularly Barbara, Carrie and Chris.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held for family and friends this summer at Taylor Pond followed by a private burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Contact the family for details at [email protected] if you are interested in attending.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the New England Music Camp Alumni Fund Scholarship program to support campers who otherwise would not be able to attend. https://snowpond.org/support