John William Flannery of Gainesville, FL, formerly of The Landings at Skidaway Island, Savannah, passed away on December 31, 2013 at Haven Hospice in Gainesville, Florida. John was married for 63 years to his devoted wife, Rita Gavin Flannery, who predeceased him in 2013.
John, born in Newark, NJ, was the son of John Joseph and Sarah Flynn Flannery. John graduated from St. Aloysius High School in Jersey City. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he received both undergraduate and master’s degrees from Newark College of Engineering. Later, he also earned an MBA from New York University. He worked as a mechanical and metallurgical engineer at Foster Wheeler, International Nickel and Mobil Oil during his career. He lived in Livingston, Westfield, and Convent Station, NJ, before retiring to Savannah in 1985. In retirement, he was an avid golfer and bridge player, and he volunteered with St. James Church and Habitat for Humanity.
John will be lovingly remembered by his son Mark Jeffrey Flannery and his wife Leslie Bram of Gainesville, Florida, and his daughter Gail Flannery Brunnet and her husband Robert of Lansdale, PA. He also leaves grandchildren, Michael and Katherine Flannery, Kristin Brunnet Kuntz (Andrew), and Jennifer Brunnet Sakelarides (Michael) and four great-grandchildren — Ashley and Kaitlyn Kuntz and Brett and Matthew Sakelarides.
A memorial mass will be offered in Pennsylvania at a later date. Memorial gifts may be sent to St. James Catholic Church (8412 Whitfield Ave, Montgomery, GA 31406; (912) 355-1523) or to Haven Hospice (4200 NW 90th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606; (352) 378-2121).
