1. My grandfather passed away in 2007. I had a very close bond with him. Since his passing I've come to learn about @GenFlynn and our connections. In a way, researching this brings me closer to those in my family who have passed on.

2. My grandfather (maternal) was on the town council in Middletown, RI back in the 1970s. He was a JFK loving Democrat. His basement walls are covered in pictures of him in local politics.

3. I stumbled upon this picture last November and it sparked my curiosity. Flynn was recognized by my grandfather for an act of heroism. He saved a young girl from a car rolling down-hill after the emergency brake was accidentally released.

4. It turns out that Flynn would be no stranger to acts of heroism. He was a lifeguard at Sachuest Beach (2nd Beach). Growing up, being a lifeguard at 2nd Beach was like being in a prestigious club. My uncle Bruce was also a lifeguard at 2nd Beach.

5. Bruce LaPointe went to high school with Flynn and graduated in '79, two years behind Flynn. They played football together. Their football coach was my middle school gym teacher. Bruce was my favorite person when I was a toddler.

6. Sadly, he passed away April 14, 1980 in a boating accident in Fonda, NY. He and some friends went away on a spring break trip and went fishing in an aluminum canoe (my dad used to have one too). A bad storm rolled in and they all drowned when the boat capsized.

7. My grandparents were never the same. It even had an impact on me because he was just gone. Looking at @GenFlynn story now, I often wonder how close he and my uncle were and if there's anything he can tell me about him.

8. Bruce's death tore up my grandfather. His career in politics ended soon after. I can't count how many times he and my grandmother would accidentally refer to me as Bruce. Other than the accidental slip, no one talked about him much.

9. Getting back to Flynn, it turns out that parents and many of my aunts and uncles knew the Flynn family. My dad wasn't a fan. He grew up surfing. He said that whenever the Flynn's would hit the water, they acted like they owned the waves. Pretty funny IMO.

10. I do find it interesting that whenever I Google my grandfather, I am swamped with Flynn results! Not a bad connection if you ask me. It's interesting reading the Flynn articles as I know most of the people that are mentioned. https://www.navytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2017/07/17/flynn-seeks-sanctuary-from-russia-scandal-in-hometown-surf/

@threadreaderapp please unroll