Obituary of Dr. Edward P. Flanagan

Dr. Eamon Flanagan, M.D. entered into peace and eternal rest on April 3rd, 2023, at home surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Sheila Burke Flanagan, his son Kevin Flanagan, his daughter Julia Flanagan, her husband Robert Bazata and his cherished granddaughter Charlotte Gray. He is also survived by his sister, Philomena Price, of Skerries, Co. Dublin, Ireland and many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Flanagan received his medical degree from University College Dublin, Ireland and completed his residency in anesthesiology and was a staff member at Hartford Hospital. He later became Chief of Anesthesia at Manchester Memorial Hospital (now ECHN). He volunteered for over 30 years as the physician at Camp Courant, the oldest and largest free summer day camp for inner city youth from Hartford. During the 1980’s he organized the Irish Children’s Project, sponsored by St. James Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, which offered children from Northern Ireland the opportunity to live in Manchester during the summer. After his retirement from anesthesiology, he dedicated time to Malta House of Care, a medical clinic that provides free high quality primary healthcare to the sick and poor in the greater Hartford region. He was also a regular contributor to Connecticut Comment, published by the Journal Inquirer newspaper, which was an opinion forum for Connecticut writers for Connecticut readers.

Dr. Flanagan was an avid runner and as president of the Manchester Road Race Committee, he led the reorganization of the race in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He helped recruit world-class Irish runners to Manchester, which has led to the Thanksgiving Day race becoming one of the most popular five-mile races in the country. He ran in the race each year for most of his life, and he also carried on the long-standing tradition of hosting a celebratory cocktail party after the race, with guests numbering into the hundreds. Dr. Flanagan cared for people in his professional life, but what brought him great joy was entertaining, being around others and having a good time, a trait not uncommon to the Irish.

The Flanagan family would like to extend a special thank you to George Oware, from Hartford Healthcare Independence at Home, who cared for Dr. Flanagan in the final stages of his life. Services will be held on Wednesday, April 12th at 11am at St. James Church in Manchester immediately followed by a luncheon reception at the Manchester Country Club. Internment at St. James Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Malta House of Care, Inc. 136 Farmington Ave. Hartford, CT 06105 https://maltahouseofcare.org/supporters/how-to-give/donate/ Or to the Manchester Road Race https://manchesterroadrace.com/

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