Raymond Flynn

Raymond Leo Flynn (born July 22, 1939) is an American politician who served as 52nd Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See (1993–1997) by President Bill Clinton.

Before entering politics, Flynn was an All-American college basketball player at Providence College, and during his senior year was selected Most Valuable Player in the 1963 National Invitation Tournament (NIT). In April 1963, he was selected by the Syracuse Nationals in the fourth round of the NBA draft. The Nationals relocated to Philadelphia to become the 76ers, but Flynn did not play for them, as he spent part of the 1963–64 season with the Wilmington Blue Bombers of the Eastern Professional Basketball League. Philadelphia traded his NBA rights to the Boston Celtics in September 1964, and in October he was the last player cut by the then-champions.

Flynn began his political career as a Democratic member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1971 to 1979, representing the South Boston neighborhood during the turbulent busing crisis of the early 1970s. He later served on the Boston City Council from 1978 to 1984, before successfully running for Mayor of Boston in 1983. He was reelected in 1987 and again in 1991. Flynn served as president of the United States Conference of Mayors during 1991–92.

Flynn, a lifelong anti-abortion activist, was instrumental in drawing the pro-life, Catholic vote to pro-abortion rights Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas in his 1992 bid for the White House against incumbent George H. W. Bush. In 1993, Flynn resigned during his third term as mayor when he was appointed by Clinton to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. Flynn served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from September 2, 1993, through September 20, 1997.

Following his service as ambassador, Flynn ran unsuccessfully for Massachusetts's 8th congressional district seat that was being vacated by Joseph P. Kennedy II in 1998. Flynn formally announced his candidacy in June, and in September lost in the Democratic primary election to eventual general election winner Mike Capuano.

In 2010, Flynn crossed party lines to vote for the successful candidacy of Republican Scott Brown for the United States Senate. In 2012, Flynn appeared in television ads supporting Brown for re-election; Flynn also voiced support for Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for president.

While serving as mayor, Flynn played himself in the 1989 Cheers episode "The Stork Brings A Crane". In the episode, Flynn has his entourage take away Cliff Clavin, who writes Flynn once a week.

Flynn was an avid runner who made headlines when he ran in the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon in 1984.

In March 2007, Flynn was grand marshal of the 246th New York St. Patrick's Day Parade.

In May 2007, Flynn joined the College of Fellows of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California, who also awarded him the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters.

In September 2008, Flynn was hospitalized after he collapsed at a Boston-area speaking engagement.

In March 2011, Flynn's home was broken into; among the valuables taken were rosary beads blessed by Pope John Paul II and letters from influential world figures.

Flynn is married to Catherine (née Coyne). They have six children: Ray Jr., Eddie, Julie, Nancy, Katie, and Maureen. In November 2017, son Ed Flynn was elected to the Boston City Council.

Media

In 1998, Flynn had a role as a radio host on WRKO in Boston. In September 2014, Flynn became a regular contributor to The Pilot, the official newspaper of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. In February 2017, Flynn became a columnist for the Boston Herald.

Religious advocacy

In 1999, Flynn became president of Catholic Alliance, a nonpartisan Catholic advocacy group. In this role, while remaining a Democrat, he and the Catholic Alliance endorsed George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election. Flynn also became president of another Catholic political advocacy organization, Your Catholic Voice. He later started Catholic Citizenship, serving as its national chairman from 2004 until 2008. Since 2004, Flynn has also served on the advisory board of Catholics for the Common Good, a lay apostolate for evangelization of culture.

In February 2016, the Boston Marine Industrial Park was renamed the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park. A nearby bridge was also renamed in Flynn's honor. In May 2017, Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker dedicated Flynn Cruiseport Boston, located in the Port of Boston.