Tributes

Patricia A. "Pat" Whitlatch Flynn, 1947 - 2016, long-time San Antonio resident and civic leader, took her leave of this world early morning May 30, 2016, after a long struggle with cancer. The oldest of five children, Pat was born in Russellton, Pennsylvania, to Woodrow Woody and Anna Whitlatch. She grew up in Elyria, Ohio, and graduated from high school there. She earned a degree in Journalism from Marquette University and later a law degree from DePaul University. She married Robert "Bob" Flynn in 1969 in Elyria, and they moved to a succession of Chicago suburbs. The family - Pat, Bob, sons Michael and Patrick, and foster daughter Sylvia Fermin, who joined the family in 1977 - lived in Oak Park for seven years before moving to San Antonio in 1980. Pat worked in the trust department at National Bank of Commerce before starting her own estate planning practice in 1985. For Pat's family and countless friends, Memorial Day will have an added meaning as a day for remembering this remarkable woman and her exceedingly well-lived life. Pat combined a passion for social change with the empathy to make a difference in the lives of individuals. She was a political junkie, from her involvement in campus politics at Marquette to serving as mayor of Hollywood Park and being active in local and national Democratic organizations. Pat always loved reading and was committed to the important role that public libraries play in the community. She served as Chair of the San Antonio Public Library Foundation and was instrumental in launching the Born to Read Program. Social justice and human rights were a vital part of her life's work. She was an active member and supporter of Amnesty International, where she co-chaired the Amnesty Capital Campaign; the Southern Poverty Law Conference; the United Way Allocation Committee; and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, of which she was a board member. Locally she participated in the Leadership San Antonio program and was a member of the Target 90 Goals Committee. In 1990 she was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame. On a personal level, family and friends all have stories of how Pat was always there for them: "the best listener in the world," "the one who taught us the meaning of friend," "the one who drove me where I needed to go when no one else was around." Pat liked movies, plays and modern art, gambling, and traveling the world. She loved her family and her friends. But of all things, she cherished most her grandchildren, Sarah, James, and Ian. She loved being with them, exposing them to the world and experiencing the world through their eyes. Pat is survived by Bob, Michael Mary-Claire and Patrick Flynn; Sylvia Fermin; grandchildren Sarah, James and Ian Flynn; brothers Woody Sandy, Kevin Michelle and Allan Whitlatch; sister Maureen Bruce Bornstein; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relations. A memorial will be held on July 8 at the McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a party to celebrate Pat's life, with access to all museum facilities from 6:30 to 10:30. All friends and family are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the San Antonio Public Library Foundation.

Tributes

Patricia A. Flynn

August 12, 2016 - May 30, 2016