Obituary: Michael 'Mike' Patrick Flanagan

Michael “Mike” Patrick Flanagan, 67, of Lewiston, passed away suddenly from a heart attack on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

Mike was born Dec. 29, 1956, in Niagara Falls, to Samuel Patrick Flanagan and Marion Marcinowski Flanagan. Both, now deceased, had been public school educators – Samuel in North Tonawanda and Marion in Niagara Falls.

Mike graduated from Lewiston-Porter High School, where he was a member of the varsity swim team. He served as a lifeguard for Niagara Falls public swimming pools. He attended Niagara University, where he was a member of both the swim team and the Dead Pheasants rugby team. Mike then served in the U.S. Marines. He later enjoyed a career as a heavy equipment operator and project supervisor on both commercial and industrial construction and demolition projects across Western New York and other parts of the United States. He worked as a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 17.

Mike loved riding his motorcycle, frequently with a group of friends who call themselves the LO Ryders (Lake Ontario Ryders). On learning of his passing, several dozen of his fellow bikers and friends organized and held a bike ride in his honor on Aug. 25. This included many of the riders wearing decals they’d made from a photo of a helmeted Mike, contentedly astride his 2008 Victory Vision, Arlen Ness Edition.

Mike often could be found at Tin Pan Alley and Somewhere, two very special places to him. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge 584. In earlier days, when Mike was more adventurous and his reflexes sharper, he was a regular stock car racer at Ransomville Speedway. Some of Mike's friends called him, both jokingly and lovingly, “Father Flanagan,” “Flanny,” “Crazy Irishman” and “Scrodman.”

Mike is survived by his daughter, Nicole Flanagan-Morreale (husband, Anthony Morreale Jr.), of Lewiston, and son, Sam Flanagan, of Youngstown; by four sisters: Joann Flanagan, of Lewiston, Kathy Burtner (Bob Burtner), of Conyers (Georgia), Suzan Flanagan (Robert Moore) of Minerva Park (Ohio), and Ann Marie Barbone (John Barbone), of Atlanta; by a brother, Tim Flanagan (MiHui Flanagan), of Hickory Creek, Texas; by two maternal aunts; and cousins, nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Mike’s family and friends will remember him in a future “celebration of life” gathering.