'Poor kid' Flynn was jurors' lawyer

Starting out as a "poor kid from St. Paul," George Flynn went on to try more than 400 cases and was named one of the best lawyers in America by a national peer-reviewed publication.

He died Sept. 21 after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 68.

"He really, really liked being a lawyer," said daughter Jennifer Rosemark, 44, of St. Paul, a partner at his firm. "I don't think he could envision doing anything else."

As a student at Cretin High School, Flynn fell in love with debate, honing his persuasive skills. Before graduating, he wrote a letter to St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., expressing how much he wanted to attend the school. It must have worked because the response he got was "Just show up," said Katie Baccoli, another daughter.

He graduated from St. John's in the top of his class and then put himself through Georgetown Law School.

"He really was a self-made man," said Baccoli, 38, of Apple Valley.

In 1967, Flynn started a legal career at Faegre & Benson. He stayed there until 1989, when he started his own firm, Flynn, Gaskins & Bennett. He worked extensively as a lawyer for Honeywell and other companies on product liability disputes.

That "common-sense law" showed his respect to people in or out of a courtroom, Rosemark said. "He's a poor kid from St. Paul. I think that's how he connected well to jurors."

In his 43-year career, Flynn was named one of the state's best lawyers by Minnesota Monthly magazine. He also was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Baccoli said her father was a boisterous man who was proud of his accomplishments, Irish heritage and alma mater.

Gaskins said that Flynn frequently attended football games and supported St. John's throughout his life. This week, Flynn was buried at the Abbey cemetery at St. John's -- "his favorite place on earth," Baccoli said.

He is survived by wife Jean, four children, their mother Kathy and two stepdaughters. Memorials can be sent to the George Flynn Scholarship Fund at St. John's University.