Growing up in Windsor Locks, Bob Flynn followed the lead of his five brothers and one sister in engaging in sports, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence. They set the example for all his efforts both on and off the field.
Sports were central to Bob’s life even at an early age, beginning with his being selected for the Windsor Locks 6th grade All Star travel basketball team, and continued through his middle and high school years. He excelled in basketball and soccer for the Windsor Locks Raiders, playing on the varsity soccer squad all four years and on the varsity basketball squad during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. His expertise in both sports was evident in his defense, holding opponents to minimal scores. Bob’s style of sacrificing everything for the game and for his team earned him the nickname Mr. Hustle.
He led his soccer teams to the Class L playoffs all four years and to the finals of the Connecticut state championship in both 1976 and 1978, where they ended up as runner up to the powerful Guilford team. He was also a defensive lead on the basketball team that went to the playoffs during his sophomore year.
In addition to his defensive hustle it is Bob’s leadership that marks him as a Hall of Famer. He served as Captain of the varsity soccer team as a senior and as Captain of the varsity basketball teams for both his junior and senior years. He was named All-Conference for the then CT Valley Conference for soccer during his junior and senior years and All-State for soccer for his senior year.
His athletic and leadership skills continued throughout his college years when he played varsity soccer all four years at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, serving as Captain during his senior year.
Bob coached youth sports in South Windsor, Connecticut, with particular pride in his son Bennett, now a resident in Ireland.
The determination and perseverance that Bob gained from his Windsor Locks family and sporting efforts continued in his professional life where he served with the US government in Washington DC and in various locations overseas before engaging in management consulting. Bob also continued his academic pursuits, earning three Master’s degrees, from the University of Connecticut, Tufts University, and most recently from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He now resides in the United Kingdom where he is pursuing his fourth Master’s degree at the University of Cambridge.