The Southern, Western, and Northern Connecticut Area recognized long-time members Betty and Tom Flynn with the Forgetful of Myself award at their annual dinner on October 12, 2019 at the Country Club of Darien. The Forgetful of Myself award is an annual recognition of a longtime member or couple who have been instrumental in building the Order of Malta in Connecticut and who are outstanding examples of the Order’s charism to defend the Catholic faith and serve the sick and the poor with Christlike humility.

Betty and Tom Flynn are long time active members of St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan and were invested into the Order of Malta in 1991. They are parents to 9 children, 8 boys and 1 girl. They were both graduates of the Educational Parish Service program (EPS), a theology education program which Betty served as a Board member and co-director. Betty served as the Hospitaller for the CT Area for many years organizing many service programs and spiritual activities. Betty created the Malta Forum, a popular local event where she invited well known speakers to come to discuss important moral and religious topics. Betty and Tom also served as Eucharistic ministers at St. Camillus Nursing Home bringing the Eucharist to the sick and homebound for more than 25 years.

Tom Flynn, a beloved Pediatrician in New Canaan, created and chaired the Diocese of Bridgeport’s White Mass for medical professionals running the event for 20+ years. He also designed, organized, and led a Bio-Ethics Lecture series for many years in CT determined that his colleagues consider the moral and ethical demands of their profession in addition to innovations in science and medical practices. Tom volunteered his services for many years at Hopital Sacre Coeur in Milot, Haiti and subsequently served as a Board member and later its President, raising funds and coordinating volunteers. The fruits of Tom’s work were evident when the earthquake struck Haiti in 2010. The hospital is now a teaching institution for Haitians and serves 50,000 patients annually.