Bernard Flanagan, age 89, a resident of The Commons in Lincoln, formerly of Boston, passed away at home on April 12, 2026.

Born in Liverpool, England on November 10, 1936, he was the son of the late Thomas and Anne (Carroll) Flanagan. Bernard, the youngest of seven boys, grew up in the West Derby neighborhood of Liverpool. At age ten, he left Liverpool to be educated by the Christian Brothers, a Catholic religious order dedicated to teaching. Bernard ultimately received his undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, London. Throughout his youth and schooling, Bernard was an avid and talented sportsman, excelling at both soccer and cricket. At the age of eighteen, Bernard became a Christian Brother, living within the religious order and pursuing his calling as a teacher.

In the mid-1960s, Bernard left England to join a Christian Brothers’ school in Plattsburgh, New York. After a few years in New York, Bernard moved to Massachusetts to pursue a master’s degree in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. While pursuing his master’s degree, Bernard taught at St. John’s Prep in Danvers and worked as a sommelier at Anthony’s Pier 4 in Boston. It was at Anthony’s that Bernard met Ann O’Meara, his future wife and life partner.

Bernard and Ann married in 1971 and purchased a home in Boston’s South End, where they would raise their two children. When Bernard and Ann left the South End, they lived at Longwood Towers in Brookline for several years before moving to Prides Crossing. Bernard and Ann stayed in Prides Crossing until Ann passed in 2018. Bernard then moved to Lincoln.

Bernard continued his calling as a teacher, serving as a beloved teacher of French at Newton North High School for over thirty years. In his early years at Newton North, Bernard coached soccer. Toward the end of his tenure at Newton North, Bernard also taught Latin.

Bernard was a francophile (although he always maintained a bit of his British disdain for all things French). He loved French culture and cuisine and was a connoisseur and collector of French wine. Bernard regularly travelled throughout France and, every other summer, he, Ann, and the kids would spend several weeks in France, living, learning, and enjoying the local French culture and lifestyle. Given his love of French wine, Bernard ran a wine tasting group in the South End for over twenty years through which he shared his love and knowledge of wine and enjoyed the community of fellow wine enthusiasts

Bernard and Ann shared a love of classical music and were longtime supporters of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Although Bernard started life as a fan of Everton Football Club because that was the Catholic team in Liverpool, he ultimately, with some help from his older brother Edward (Teddy), became a fan of Liverpool Football Club. Most matchdays, you found him in his comfy chair watching the game and cheering on the Reds.

Bernard was a talented calligrapher, having trained in London with the Royal Scribe. Bernard’s handwriting and signature (FlanaganB, always with an emphasis on the downstrokes of the F and B) were impressive for their beauty and precision. Bernard pursued calligraphy as a passion and throughout his life he often shared his love of calligraphy by teaching it: during his tenure at Newton North, Bernard periodically taught calligraphy classes; in retirement, Bernard took every opportunity to lead calligraphy courses in his local communities in Boston, Brookline, and at The Commons.

Bernard is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Flanagan of Somerville; his son, Aidan Flanagan and his wife Abby of Concord; and his three grandchildren. Bernard is also survived by his nephew Desmond Flanagan of Liverpool, England. Bernard was predeceased by his wife, Ann.

A funeral Mass in celebration of Bernard’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 11 a.m. in St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord, Massachusetts.  Please click here to access the church live stream, for those who wish to attend remotely.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bernard’s memory can be made to the North Bennet Street School in Boston or the Three Sisters Garden Project in Ipswich.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.