Rotary Friends - Dr. Bob Flynn
Rotary Friends
“Friendship multiplies happiness
And divides sorrows.”
This Rotary friend makes you smile; he’s been doing it two ways for more years than you have on your driver’s license. He’s certainly been around the block in providing happiness and he refuses to stop, despite holding a nonagenarian title. (Ask Mary Stauffer what that means – she’s been there!)
He manages the trick by making your smile much flashier and by filling your ears and soul with music.
You’re right. It’s Dr. Bob Flynn. He came into our club under the shepherding of Dr. John Sims, gone to that dental office on high, and Bill Bowermaster, Past District Governor, who’s still with us mortals. That was in 1984.
Dr. Dan pads over to the keyboard side of room each Tuesday and has Dr. Bob give us the starting chord to “I am a happy wanderer, duh duh duh duh, duh duh…” and other better-known songs. (We saw many smiles that day for sure.) You may have noticed that Dr. Bob doesn’t need words or sheet music. He is a musician, who from his earliest days in Inglewood, has had the magic touch for organ, piano, and keyboards of any sort. No need to practice when he performs at old folks’ homes, or church 5 plus times a week.
When I asked Bob what he has done in the Rotary Club here in Downey he happily admitted to Music, Music, and more Music. We are very lucky to have his talent. Sometimes he brings his friend, Patricia Culver with him and we’ve found that she sings much better than all of us, including Dr. Bob.
In 1949 (I was 4) Bob met and married intriguing and good looking, Frances. It was a much more common name in those days and she was a beauty. They had 10 great kids; 7 boys and 3 girls. The oldest one is now 66 and Frances waits to greet them all again at the pearly gates.
I mentioned that he is also expert in lining teeth up for matchless smile power. Yes, he was an Orthodontist for 52 years. It came with a pedigree of many schools; Loyola University, Carroll College, UOP Dental School, College of Physicians and Surgeons (are you beginning to see images of teeth and wires?). He thought about other things, but older brothers had already taken paths to Lawyering and Medical Radiology.
I asked Dr. Bob if he has had any fears in his interesting life. He thought for about 5 seconds and with a smile on his face he answered “No.” Then he added, “I am a devoted Catholic. I believe in prayer. How do people live without using it?”
I like to find out any untied loose ends or dreams that our friends hope to accomplish. When asked, friend Bob nodded solemnly and said, “I’d like to see my family return to church. The girls are doing okay, but the boys are a little less active.”