Obituary: Maureen Flahaven was leader on many local, state issues

Maureen Flahaven, a civic leader and activist who played important roles working for DFL candidates, promoting Minnesota and rebuilding St. Paul's downtown sports arena, died of cancer March 2 in her St. Paul home. She was 71.

In one of her most prominent roles, Flahaven served on the board of the St. Paul Civic Center Authority in the 1990s and helped secure $65 million in state financing to rebuild the downtown sports arena, now called Xcel Energy Center and home to the NHL's Minnesota Wild.

She also served as executive director of Celebrate Minnesota, a statewide promotion designed to be like a "homecoming" and timed to coincide with the 1990 Summer Olympics Festival that brought thousands of visitors to the state.

Flahaven also managed the governor's residence under former Gov. Rudy Perpich's two administrations in the 1970s and 1980s.

Flahaven had a deep interest in politics, and met her future husband, Pat Flahaven, in 1968 when both served on the staff of the late U.S. Rep. Joseph Karth, a Democratic congressman from St. Paul. They were married in 1969, and she moved from her native Washington, D.C., to St. Paul.

Joe O'Neill, an attorney and former Republican state legislator who served with Flahaven on the civic center authority, said her people skills helped at the State Capitol in 1999 as they urged lawmakers to authorize a financial package to help construct a new arena.

"Things like this can be a political nightmare," O'Neill said, "but she didn't allow it. She worked with citizens on both sides. We had no political missteps. We were all together."

"Minnesota is lucky to have people like Maureen who get together on civic things and work them out," O'Neill added.

Although Flahaven never held elective office, she worked on campaigns for local and state political leaders.

She served in many roles, from door knocking to high-level strategy. She attended DFL precinct caucuses and served as a delegate to state-level political conventions.

In the 1970s, Flahaven was the campaign chairman for Ruby Hunt, who served 10 years on the St. Paul City Council and another 12 years on the Ramsey County Board.

"She had a great political mind," Hunt said.

"She was passionate about the issues she cared about," added Flahaven's husband, Pat, the longtime Minnesota Senate secretary.

"She was very articulate about expressing opinions, and had a reputation for being friendly, but was very firm on things she cared about."

Flahaven also served on the district council in the Grand Avenue area where the couple lived for more than 40 years, and took part in local debates over commercial development and its consequences for the residential neighborhood, he said.

She was active in the Summit Hill Association, and did charitable work through the Cathedral of St. Paul and other organizations.

Flahaven was born May 23, 1943, in Washington, D.C., and grew up there except for some time spent in Hawaii, where her father was stationed after World War II. She graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in Washington, D.C., in 1961, and later attended the University of Maryland.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. April 26 at the Prom Event Center, 484 Inwood Av. N., Oakdale.