Dick Flynn died surrounded by his family on August 23, 2024 after a challenging four years of living with Alzheimer’s disease. He leaves his beloved wife of 56 years, Marilyn Flynn (nee Keefe), his daughters Bridget Flynn, Amy Stuart, and Katie Flynn, his sons-in-law, Chris Van Dyke, Ian Stuart, and Mark McQuillan, and the grandchildren he adored and cherished: Jed Van Dyke, Peter McQuillan, Flynn Stuart, Margot Van Dyke, Sean McQuillan, Joey Stuart, Owen McQuillan, and Leo Stuart.

Dick was predeceased by his parents, James and Helen Flynn, his youngest brother, Michael, and his in-laws, Wilfred Keefe, Anna Keefe, Paul Keefe, and Clare Keefe. He also leaves his siblings and their spouses: Paula and Eugene Wilson of Brampton, Donald and Martha Flynn of Truro NS, and Mary Flynn of Toronto, as well as his in-laws: Kevin Keefe, Cheryl and Terry Bradley, Ron and Denise Keefe, Mary Lee Keefe and Guy Manuel, and Birgitte Scheel. His many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbours, teammates and colleagues loved him so.

The eldest of five siblings, Dick was born at home on November 4, 1943, in the small community of St. Peters Bay in eastern Prince Edward Island. His father was the local butcher and ran the general store. Dick went to school in nearby Morell, then to Saint Dunstan’s University (now UPEI) in Charlottetown, where he played hockey on the varsity team and graduated in 1966. On a trip to Ontario with his classmate Wilfred Keefe, he met Wilf’s sister, Marilyn, a newly registered nurse. They married in 1968, and after a few years transplanted to Saskatchewan, they settled in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood to raise their three girls.

Dick was a self-made businessman who co-founded and led two medical equipment companies: Acart (est 1981) in Canada and LogiQuip (est 1992) in the USA, both of which continue to flourish throughout North America. A consummate visionary, Dick had a key role in inventing and developing many products that are still in use today to support patient care. His career culminated in 2017 when he and partner Dave Kaynor sold Logiquip, and then again in 2019 when he passed the Acart reins to his daughter Katie. Colleagues and customers who worked with the companies for decades will miss his ability to connect effortlessly with people from all walks of life—a hallmark of his character.

Until only a few years ago, Dick played ice hockey multiple times a week, a pastime that built many of his most lasting friendships. Saturday morning games at Chesswood Arena in Toronto are still known as “Dick Flynn Hockey” fifty years after he signed the first ice contract at the rink. In 1990, Dick and Marilyn ran the NYC marathon and crossed the finish line holding hands. Summers were spent driving back to PEI to visit the Flynn, MacDonald, Keefe and Carragher families. Over the years he tried hunting, honed his golf skills, cheered for the Blue Jays through thick and thin, and begrudgingly committed the cardinal sin of defecting from the Habs when his daughters started cheering for the Maple Leafs.

Dick was thrilled by the arrival of his grandkids, seven boys and one girl in quick succession from 2004 to 2011. No matter how early the wake-up call, he never missed a chance to haul them to various sports or extracurriculars or take them to a Leafs or Jays game. Shedding any restraint he’d clung to while raising his daughters, he spoiled his grandkids to his heart’s delight. “Papa” was the role he was most destined to play.

In retirement, he and Marilyn travelled the world, biking around Europe, enjoying their cottage on Lake of Bays and spending winters in Naples, Florida. They returned to Prince Edward Island at every opportunity, even as his health and memory declined. Dick donated the land next to his childhood home in St. Peters to his alma mater to allow for the construction of the world-class UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation. Attending its grand opening in 2022 was a proud full-circle moment for him.

Alzheimer’s is a disease of gradual and painful loss. We are grateful to the teams at UHN and Lakeshore Lodge who provided excellent care along the way, including Dr. David Tang-Wai, Dr. Katelyn Reynolds, Dr. Kerstina Boctor, Dr. Warren Lewin, social worker Cecelia Marshall, caregiver Biatha N and all the heroic nurses, PTs, OTs, and PSWs who showed him, and us, much care and kindness. A profound thank you to Joe Inselada, who over the past six months became indispensable to our family as Dick’s caregiver, advocate and friend.

In our grief, we take much solace in the blessings that marked the balance of Dick’s life. From his deep friendships, to his pride in his daughters and sons-in-law, to his strong professional and business legacies, to the wide reach of his hockey circles, to his PEI roots, to the unbridled joy he took in his grandkids, to his Catholic faith, and finally, to his most enduring love for Marilyn — we are certain that Dick considered himself the luckiest guy around.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dick’s memory to the Baycrest Foundation or the Alzheimer Society of Toronto: https://shorturl.at/wXz7V

Visitation will be held on Wednesday August 28th from 6-9pm at Turner and Porter, Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor Street West. Funeral Memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 3055 Bloor Street West, on Thursday August 29th at 11am. A livestream of the service will be available — link below. After the mass, join us at the Crooked Cue, 3056 Bloor Street West, to raise a glass in celebration of Dick’s wonderful life.