Mary Ellen F Flynn

Mary Ellen Flynn (nee Bemler) of Paterson, NJ, widow of Robert M. Flynn of Verona, NJ, her husband of 38 years, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 30th at the age of 81. She is survived by her three children: Eileen Flynn, Maureen DeOrio, and Robert P. Flynn, and her five grandchildren: Timothy Logue, Thomas Logue, Colleen DeOrio, Kathleen DeOrio, and Robert S Flynn. Mrs. Flynn attended Saint Mary’s High School in Paterson, NJ; graduated from Montclair State Teacher’s College in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science. She was a high school science teacher for 27 years at Clifton High School in Paterson, NJ and Woodrow Wilson/Harry S. Truman High School in Bristol Township, PA where she pioneered new classes in Aerospace/Aviation, Oceanography, Geology, and Astronomy and Meteorology. Mrs. Flynn was trained by NASA in education including certification to handle moon rocks. She was also an applicant for the Teacher in Space Project in 1984. As a life-long member of the Archeological Society of New Jersey since 1956 Mrs. Flynn attended many digs, symposiums, and lectures. She was a member of the Geological Society of New Jersey, a member of the Cousteau Society, the National Association for Rocketry, the National Aerospace Education Association. Through her work and training with the New Jersey State School of Conservation, she was an instructor in field biology, conservation education, forestry, and wildlife. Mrs. Flynn was active in the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of America since 1967 as a leader, member of the esteemed Order of the Arrow, and merit badge counselor in Indian Lore, Rocketry, Aerospace, Citizenship, Geology, Aviation, and Oceanography. She was also a collegiate foil fencer and the team captain at Montclair State Teacher’s College. As a competitor, she qualified for US Nationals. She coached competitive women’s foil at Caldwell College, Kean College, Newark State College, the YMCA, and Woodrow Wilson High School and sat on the National Board of Directors as Secretary for the USFA in the 1950s and 1960s and co-founded the South Jersey Division of the USFA. Mrs. Flynn was a long-time member of the New Jersey Historical Society, the Burlington County Historical Society, and the New Sweden Centre of New Castle, DE. She was an historical interpreter at Pennsbury Manor, PA, the Churchville Nature Center in Churchville, PA, Wheaton Village in Millville, NJ, and a docent at the historical Dey Mansion in Wayne, NJ. As President of the Willingboro Heritage Commission of Willingboro, NJ, she oversaw the caretaking of Willingboro’s one-room schoolhouse. Mrs. Flynn was an active member of the 43rd Regiment of Foot/2nd PA Regiment Revolutionary War reenacting organization, a friend of the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, NJ, and long-time member of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. A devout Catholic, she was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church of Mt Holly, NJ and also Corpus Christi Catholic Church of Willingboro, NJ where she sang alto in the choir, was a Eucharistic Minister, and designed altar covers for the Church. Since 1955, Mrs. Flynn devoted a significant portion of her life’s work to her passion for the study and preservation of the history of Eastern Woodland Indians, specifically the Lenape. She was mentored by her friend and NJ State Archaeologist the late Dr. Herbert Kraft of Seton Hall and through her studies, attended many archaeological digs throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. An early member of the Lenape Land Association, she oversaw the accurate reconstruction of many Lenape structures and villages in the Delaware Valley. Through lectures and seminars, she presented the history and culture of the Lenape to communities and students throughout the Delaware Valley. Mrs. Flynn’s lifelong collection of Lenape artifacts, have been displayed at Ellis Island, universities, private and public exhibitions, and historical societies. A significant portion of her collection was donated for placement in a Museum of Lenape (Delaware) History and Culture which is planned to be built in the future. Additional items were also donated to the Churchville Nature Center, a reproduction Lenape village which Mrs. Flynn helped to build. For her lifelong work and dedication to the education and preservation of their people’s history and heritage Mrs. Flynn has been honored by the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma in Bartlesville. Mrs. Flynn was an avid science fiction fan, in particular the television series Star Trek. She attended some of the first conventions since 1973 traveling to Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Detroit, California and London. Mrs. Flynn volunteered for the Welcommittee, an organization that personally assisted cast members at conventions when signing autographs and speaking. It is in this role that she became friends with several cast members, in particular the late James Doohan who played “Scotty” in the Original Series Star Trek. Her collection of memorabilia, original show props, rare films, and literature was extensive. Mrs. Flynn continued her dedicated interest to the television franchise over the course of her life. As a high school science teacher Mrs. Flynn inspired love and enthusiasm of space and space exploration for many generations of students. Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Saturday at 10:30 AM at the Sacred Heart Church, 260 High St., Mount Holly. Interment will follow in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Burlington. Friends may visit with the family on Friday evening from 6-8 pm at the Perinchief Chapels, 438 High St., Mount Holly. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to the Archeological Society of N.J. and the Youth Development Program US Fencing Association. www.perinchief.com

Mary Ellen F Flynn

January 15, 1935 - May 30, 2016