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On January 1, 2024, Mark Flynn, aged 70, was able to trick cancer into staying here while his spirit broke free to soar about all of creation. Mark was the adored middle child of the late Maxine Rebecca Flynn (née Kaufman) and the late Timothy Vincent Flynn Sr. of Mobile, Alabama. He and his siblings, Rosalind Hinton (wife Tamara Kreinin) and the late Stephen J. Flynn (widow Patte Cummings Flynn) sadly lost their father at an early age. Their mother, owner and operator of Maxine’s Dress Shop, raised her three children with careful help from Lucille Robinson of Plateau, Alabama. As a young boy, Mark spent many an afternoon learning to stew and hunt squirrels with his elder neighbor Edward P Lauzon Jr. At age seven, Mark’s favorite pets, a cat and duck, ran away together to build a community of animals living on the moon. A brilliant mind, Mark attended Little Flower and Mcgill-Toolen Catholic Schools in Mobile. He graduated from Spring Hill College with bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy, English, and Fine Arts. While attending Spring Hill, he met his first wife and the mother of his children, Lee Flynn. Together they traveled to Verona, Italy where Mark studied hand printing under Richard-Gabriel Rummonds. Mark’s devotion to learning earned him a master’s degree in Archives Administration and Records Management from the University of New Orleans, a master’s degree in Library Science and a specialist degree in Library Science from the University of Alabama. Mark was a bon vivant. He had an innate sense of humor and regularly professed to his children John Timothy “Jack” Flynn (wife Brittany Ford Flynn) and Madeleine Sophie Reinecke “Maddie” Flynn (partner Matthew Burdi) that he had been both a pirate and a cowboy before becoming a Papa. Mark had a love of music exemplified by his passion for the culture of his ancestral home New Orleans. He was a lifelong attendee of the N.O. Jazz & Heritage Festival and haunted storied venues; Rosy’s and the Maple Leaf. In his own right, Mark was a multi-instrumentalist who played the piano, harmonica, mandolin, kazoo, banjo, Irish penny whistle, concertina, and ukulele. Mark held librarian positions at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia before he settled in Tallahassee, Florida. It was there he would begin 21 years of service to the people of Florida as a librarian at the State Library of Florida. A true champion of libraries, Mark believed library services were essential to every community and fought tirelessly for their evaluation and expansion. In this noble service, Mark worked as a consultant for the nations of Barbados and El Salvador to expand their library infrastructures. Mark was instrumental in the development of the Florida Electronic Library of which he was named director. To this day, at least one community library maintains a shrine for Mark Flynn. Mark married the love of his life, Veronique Lambilliotte and so gained step sons Jeremy Dorminy (wife Jenny Dawson Dorminy) and Michael Dorminy (wife Jena Chaaban Dorminy). Together they shared many wonderful moments gathered around their Sunday dinner table. Later they would host happy hours, holding court with their neighbors on the front porch. He became affectionately known as “Pappy” to his grandchildren, Emily, John, Liam, Olivia, and Cameron Dorminy, each of whom have a favorite dessert he made in their honors. His repertoire included, cakes, pies, cookies, biscuits, cobblers, and soufflés. Mark retired as Dean of Libraries from Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. There he was known for riding his bike to work every day, through the front doors of the library and straight into his office. He implemented many programs designed to bring students into the library, to nurture community, and provide a safe place to discuss ideas. His diligent planning, exemplary management, and inspiration made him a blessing to every community he touched. Through his kindness, collaborative spirit, and positivity, Mark leaves behind a beloved group of colleagues and friends. Mark is survived by his wife, son, daughter, step sons, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cat P’tit Loup. Mark is preceded in death by his father, mother, and brother, his half-brother Timothy Vincent “Bobby” Flynn Jr., and half-sister Janice Flynn, his beloved dog, Limbo and cherished cat, Zorro. He leaves behind an enormous collection of rare books, compact discs, and musical instruments. Forever sunny, his favorite color was yellow, and he never met a stranger. Mark’s parting words were to celebrate every day of our lives and a clear message to all, “I Love you!” Plans for a celebration of Mark’s life will be forthcoming. In Lieu of Flowers, consider a donation in Mark’s name to one of the following organizations: The Roots of Music, www.therootsofmusic.org American Civil Liberties Union https://www.aclu.org, The American Library Association https://ec.ala.org Niki Carney of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

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Mark William Flynn

July 2, 1953 - January 1, 2024