FLYNN, EILEEN ELEANOR FINLIN (13 June 1915-11 Oct. 1992), attorney, civic leader and social activist, was Assistant Attorney General to Ohio Attorney General William Saxbe (1957-59) and a member of the Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals in the 1960s (see ZONING). She served as president of the diocesan council of the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN (NCCW) (NCCW, 1956-58)) for the Diocese of Cleveland (see CATHOLICS, ROMAN) and the youngest head of the Catholic Federation of Women's Clubs. Born in Cleveland to Honor Graham and John Frank Finlin, Flynn graduated from Flora Stone Mather College (1937) of Western Reserve University with a home economics major. After her marriage on 17 September 1936, she studied LAW at the Cleveland Marshall Law School of CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY (L.L.B., 1947) with her husband, James P. Flynn, Jr. In 1948 they opened their law practice, Flynn & Flynn, with Eileen Flynn specializing in probate law. She held national chairs in legislation for both the National Association of Women Lawyers and the NCCW, organizing workshops for the council in 100 dioceses. Flynn also served on a Presidential Committee for Traffic Safety, the juvenile court committee of the CLEVELAND BAR ASSN. (CBA), and the legislative committee for the Welfare Federation. She edited the journal of the National Association of Women Lawyers (1950-51).
In addition to professional groups, Flynn actively participated in welfare organizations, for example, as trustee of the NATIONALITIES SERVICES CENTER and MERRICK HOUSE SOCIAL SETTLEMENT, and as president of the CHRIST CHILD SOCIETY. She had 1 child, John Colman; the family lived in Cleveland. Flynn is buried in Calvary Cemetery.
Last Modified: 16 Jul 1997 01:55:19 PM- Related Article(s)