Rev. Thomas Flanigan
To know him is to know strength - strength of purpose and conviction; to
know him is to be rich - rich with Christian ideals.
Flanigan is a Troy native, born April 25, 1924, to the late William J. and Helen E. Flanigan. He received
his early education at St. Augustine’s and Catholic Central High School, then graduated from St.
Andrew’s Seminary, Niagara University and Our Lady of the Angels Seminary.
He served as assistant pastor of St. Patrick’s, Watervliet, was assistant to the principal of Keveny
Academy from 1952 to 1964, assistant pastor of St. Bernard’s Church, Cohoes, and pastor of St. Ann’s
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Rev. Thomas Flanigan
Church in Fort Ann. While at St. Ann’s, he was chaplain of Great Meadow Correctional Facility at
Comstock from 1964-69.
He has served as pastor at St. Peter’s since December 1969.
Flanigan has served the community in various capacities, as president and chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Washington County Economic Opportunity Council, chairman of the Narcotics Guidance
Council and member of the board of directors of TRIP. He has served on the Board of Directors of the
Troy Boy’s Club, formed and directed St. Peter’s Band, now known as St. Peters-St. Patrick’s Band, was
chaplain of Troy Council Knights of Columbus, and a member of the board of Catholic Central High
School.
Among his many awards are the National Award for his work in the Rural Office of Economic Opportunity,
the Dismas Award for his work among the prisoners at Great Meadow, and the Uncle Sam Citizens
Award from the Troy Bi-Centennial Commission.
He received the St. John Newman Award in 1995 and the Dr. Martin Luther King Drum Major Presidential
Award in 1998. Also in July 1998, Flanigan shared the dais with first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton during
the dedication of the Kate Mullany House, which is located in St. Peter’s Church parish.
He is a member of the Troy Boys Club Hall of Fame and the Cohoes Hall of Fame. When dedicating the
renovated Standard Furniture building, businessman John Hedley named the building Flanigan Square in
the priest’s honor.
In 1998, the Thomas K. Flanigan Humanitarian Award, given annually by St. Peters Parish to individuals
who contribute to the betterment of the city of Troy, and especially in the area of surrounding the parish,
was introduced. Flanigan, along with John Hedley, were the first recipients.
Flanigan, in his 50 years as a priest, has made many friends and has earned the respect not only of the
parishioners of St. Peters but from members of the community, and the entire Capital District for his faith,
integrity and dedication.
Troy loses beloved priest
By: Robert Cristo, The Record
November 25, 2001
TROY - Collar City residents mourned the death of Rev. Thomas
K. Flanigan, retired pastor of St. Peter's Church.
He led the church for 31 years.
Father Flanigan marches with his St. Peter's/St.
Patrick's Band during a 1997 parade. (Record
file photo)
Flanigan, 77, who only retired in June 2000, was well known in the city for his spiritual leadership and the enthusiasm he
showed leading his parish's marching band during Flag Day parades and other festivities around the Capital District.
"His love for children is one of things that really impressed me about him," said Donna Megan, 57, who was Flanigan's
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Rev. Thomas Flanigan
administrative assistant for seven years before he retired. "The children and that band were his life. ... He was always
concerned about their welfare."
In recent months, Flanigan had been in and out of the hospital with respiratory problems, although a spokesperson for St.
Mary's Hospital would not specify the cause of his death.
During her time spent working with Father Flanigan, Megan said it would take an entire book to describe all the "wonderful"
moments she shared with him over the years.
"He took care of so many people who needed clothes and were hungry, and he really loved St. Peter's," she said. "He was
very proud of his parish and parishioners, and he totally worshipped his family."
Megan, who retired from St. Peter's when she was diagnosed as having diabetes, also recollects a man who was there to
guide her through some pretty tough times in her own life.
"He helped me get through some hurdles in my life that, without him, I don't think if I would have made it through. I'm just
devastated. ... I have no words to describe just how much he meant to me and many other people. After he retired, we
always kept in touch. ... He was a wonderful man."
In addition to his work at St. Peter's Church, Flanigan also served on the board of the Troy Boys & Girls Club, was chairman
of the Washington County Economic Opportunity Council and was one of Troy's most popular grand marshals of the Troy
Flag Day Parade.
"He loved marching in the parade with the kids, and I'm going to miss
him, because he was a great friend and an inspiration to so many people," said Kay McCarty, who has been attending
services at the Fifth Avenue church since 1937.
"He was probably the model for what a priest is supposed to be. ... His accomplishments are well known. He befriended
everybody, and everyone that knew him respected him," she added.
While he may not have known Flanigan well, the current pastor of St. Peter's Church believes his predecessor had an impact
on the church and the community that will last for generations.
"He was a much beloved priest in Troy and the surrounding areas," said Rev. James Mcnerney. "He had a big involvement
with the kids, the band, and he really made a difference in Troy."
In June 1983, Flanigan received the opportunity to meet with Pope John Paul II during a three-month sabbatical and
theology study in Rome. It was an experience, he told The Record when he returned, that was "difficult" to describe.
"It gave me chills, said Flanigan in a interview with The Record at the time. "It was a great thrill." He said his two meetings
with the Pope were very impressive.
Calling hours for Father Flanigan will be held Tuesday in St. Peter's Church at 4 p.m. His funeral will be held at 11 a.m.
Wednesday at St. Peter's where the Mass will be celebrated by Most Rev. Howard J. Hubbard, bishop of the Albany
Diocese.
©The Record 2001
Rev. Thomas K. Flanigan, 77
TROY - Rev. Thomas K. Flanigan 77, retired pastor of St. Peter's Church in Troy, died at St. Mary's Hospital Saturday,
November 24, 2001.
Born on April 25, 1924, in Troy, NY, he was the son of the late William and Helen E. Hammill Flanigan.
Father Flanigan was a graduate of St. Augustine's School, Catholic Central High School, class of 1942 and Niagara
University, class of 1946. He then went into the seminary and graduated from St. Bernard's Seminary. He was ordained a
priest on June 3, 1950.
Father Flanigan was an assistant pastor at St. Patrick's Church in Watervliet then went to St. Ann's Church in Albany as
assistant pastor then on to St. Bernard's Parish where he was assistant pastor and Dean of Students at Keveny Academy in
Cohoes.
Father Flanigan then went to St. Ann's Parish in Ft. Ann, NY, where he was pastor and chaplain at Great Meadows
Correctional Facility at Comstock. He then was sent to St. Peter's in Troy, NY, where he as pastor from December of 1969 till
June of 2000 when he retired.
Father Flanigan was the founder of the Keveny Band in Cohoes the St. Peter's Band and the St. Peter's-St. Patrick's Band in
Troy.
Father Flanigan was a member of the Troy Knights of Columbus and was the chaplain of the Columbiettes for the Troy
Knights of Columbus. He was a member and Board of Director of the Society of The Friends of St. Patrick of Troy, member
and Board of Director of the Commission on Economic Opportunity in Rensselaer and Washington Counties, a member of the
Aging Athletes of Keveny Academy, former president and Board of Directors member of CCHS.
He was the recipient of the Monsignor Burns Memorial Award, Troy Boys Club Man of the Year, the Uncle Sam Man of the
Year, the Cohoes Care Taker's, the Damien Award for service to the New York State Correction Facilities, and was the first
recipient of the Rev. Thomas K. Flanigan Humanitarian award of St. Peter's Church.
Survivors include two sisters Elizabeth M. Cullen and Marie H. Thayer both of Troy, NY, and his late brother Rev. William J.
Flanigan, who died March 3, 1980, Matthew M, John D, and Kathleen Flanigan. Also survived by several nieces and
nephews and grandnieces and nephews.
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Rev. Thomas Flanigan
Funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. at St. Peter's Church where the Mass will be celebrated by Most Rev.
Howard J. Hubbard Bishop of Albany.
The reception of the body of Father Flanigan will be held Tuesday November 27, 2001 in St. Peter's Church at 4 p.m.
Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the John J. Sanvidge Funeral Home, Inc., corner of 115th Street and 4th
Avenue in Lansingburgh Monday afternoon from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and at St. Peter's Church on Tuesday from 4 p.m. till 7:30
p.m. with a parish Mass to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Interment will be in St. John's Cemetery, Troy, NY.
Those who wish may make donations to the Retired Clergy Fund @ the Albany Diocese 40 North Main Avenue, Albany, NY
12203.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the John J. Sanvidge Funeral Home, Inc. corner of 115th Street and 4th Avenue in
Lansingburgh.
Father Flanigan a champion of God, people
By:
November 27, 2001
Rev. Thomas K. Flanigan was the embodiment of what a priest in the Roman Catholic Church
should be.
He was the kind of priest that Pat O'Brien or Bing Crosby used to portray in the movies, except Father Flanigan performed
his good deeds in real life, every day.
His death has brought sadness to many in the area, especially the people of Cohoes, where he had been dean of students
at the former Keveny Memorial Academy, and the people of Troy, where he was pastor of St. Peter's Church on Fifth
Avenue from 1969 until his retirement in 2000.
Father Flanigan was the heartbeat that kept the 175-year-old inner-city parish going through thick and thin, at a time when
the diocese was closing down, or merging, church after church.
His love of music, even though he had no formal training, inspired youngsters both at Keveny and later at St. Peter's, where
he formed the St. Peter's/St. Patrick's band.
His Keveny bands would often perform in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City.
The community so came to love this man and his mission that fund-raisers were held to keep his bands in uniforms and
instruments.
John Hedley, a Troy entrepreneur, established the Father Flanigan Humanitarian Award given annually for outstanding
community service. Hedley also named the old Standard Furniture building he refurbished for state offices on River Street
Flanigan Square.
The list of awards given to Father Flanigan for community service are too numerous to mention in this space. This
champion of the common man made the time to serve on various boards and in service organizations in the community.
We will all miss this man of God and the contributions he made to this community. The best way we can pay tribute to
Father Flanigan, however, is to make sure the ideals he embraced during his life are carried on now that he is gone.
'Father Troy' laid to rest
By Jeff Buell, The Record
November 29, 2001
TROY - St. Peter's church was filled with respectful mourners and songs of praise Wednesday,
as hundreds gathered to say goodbye to Father Thomas K. Flanigan, a beloved priest devoted
to serving his community.
Flanigan, who was known throughout Troy for his work with the Saint Peter's/Saint Patrick's Marching Band, died Friday at
the age of 77. Father James Vaughn, a Catholic Central High School classmate
of Flanigan's, was honored to give the homily at his friend's Mass.
He comforted those gathered with stories from Flanigan's early years, saying " 'T.K.' (the nickname many of his close
friends and relatives knew him by) couldn't shoot at all, but he was a scrapper" when playing basketball, and that he went
to the "country club of seminaries" in Niagara.
"Father Tom believed and lived this message," Vaughn said of Psalm 110. "He had no doubt who he was, by the grace of
God, and what he was to be, the priest of the most high God - forever ... 'TK' did more than that. He didn't just keep the
faith, he spread the faith by the life he lived as a Christian. He didn't have to preach, he lived the life God wanted him to."
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Rev. Thomas Flanigan
Vaughn continued to talk about Flanigan for 20 minutes, mixing humor with sadness to portry what Flanigan meant to the
people of the city. Toward the end of his homily, Vaughn placed a name on Flanigan that fit perfectly for those who knew
him - Father Troy.
"Right here in Saint Peter's parish he has become a legend in his own right," Vaughn said. "He was truly the spiritual
leader of this city. You would see his smiling Irish face with his marching band in the local newspaper more than the
politicians."
Most Rev. Howard J. Hubbard, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, celebrated the Mass along with 80 priests
from around the area and as far away as Washington, D.C. As the Mass was ending, Hubbard, who knew Flanigan since
the day he became a priest, expressed his condolences to the family and the entire city.
"He was always passive and approachable, caring for the poor and the needy," Hubbard said. "(He) became a perennial
figure at all the parades in the Capital District by leading his marching band, (and) serving the seniors at Kennedy Towers.
He is rightly deserving of that appellation that Father Vaughn has given him today, Father Troy."
As his casket was being taken from Saint Peter's, where he served for more than 30 years, the band that he worked so
hard to form, played "When The Saints Go Marching In."
As some of his fellow priests clapped their hands, one of the people choking back tears was Councilman Jim Gray, a lifelong parishioner of Saint Peter's who became close to Flanigan since the day he arrived.
"Grown men were reduced to tears, he was that important to everybody," Gray said. "He was the kind of guy that I think of
as a person and not just a priest. He touched everyone he met, and he planted a seed in them. He will never be replaced."
Mayor Mark Pattison said that the term "Father Troy" was well placed, but that Flanigan went a step further as well.
"He's been an icon, and sort of the heart of Troy, for a long time," Pattison said. "He certainly spread his wings farther than
just the parish, as far as his community activities, and his presence at parades."
Father Flanigan will have many things left behind in his honor, including the former Standard Furniture Building on River
Street which is now named Flanigan Square; a community garden on Old Sixth Avenue named after him; and the Father
Flanigan Humanitarian Award.
One past winner of that award is businessman John Hedley, a close friend of Flanigan's who saw him shortly before his
death. Outside of the service, Hedley was reflecting on humorous experiences with Flanigan and his marching band, while
trying to put into words what the loss of his good friend means.
"He looked so good last week, it's hard to believe what happened," Hedley said. "This loss is just tremendous, not just for
me, but the community, and especially this neighborhood. He was really the staple and kept everything together. This is
Father Flanigan's neighborhood, we're just going to keep and eye on it for him."
Flanigan will be laid to rest in Saint John's Cemetery in Lansingburgh.
©The Record 2001
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