William Flynn, SA – age 81, of Cape Carteret, NC and Vero Beach, FL passed away on February 26, 2026.

Born in the Bronx, NY to Irish immigrant parents, David Flynn of County Cork and Brigid Cullinan of County Waterford, Bill/Billy was the fourth of 7 siblings and was always a family man. Before marrying the love of his life, Linda Reilly and becoming a husband and father to Danny Griffin, Bill had many jobs.

He was always a worker. Putting himself through college, he worked as a bus driver, waiter, bartender, and cabana boy, among other things. He also worked with the Christian Brothers at Lincoln Hall in Westchester County, NY, with troubled adolescents. Bill was educated by the Christian Brothers at Good Shepherd School and La Salle Academy in Manhattan, NY. and by the Sisters of Mercy at St. Simon Stock in the Bronx, NY.

Bill joined the FBI along with his brother Pat and served as a special agent from 1971 to 1998, ending his career at the field office at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In his recent book, “Did I Tell You This One?”, he included many stories of his time in the FBI and also of growing up in the Bronx.

After retirement, Bill worked in AML (Anti-money Laundering) In banks and insurance companies. His greatest love in retirement, though, was reading weekly to a retired Marine Corps Major Randy Hebert, who contracted ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease in the 1990’s. Randy, Kim and their children became family to Bill and Linda.

Bill was a true patriot and had many talents, including being a great storyteller, writer, mentor to all his nieces and nephews, a family man, through and through, and of course, professionally, as an investigator. Spending his teenage and young adult years in Breezy Point, Queens, NY, Bill continued his love of the water with boating.

He is survived by his loving wife, Linda, siblings Christian Brother Gregory Flynn (Jack), Kathleen Donnelly, Ann Flynn, and Mary Flynn-Maguire, brother-in-law, Tommy Reilly and his wife, Barbara, and brother-in-law, Gary Davis, and Aunts Kathleen Reilly and Judy Roan. Also survived by 23 nieces and nephews and 32 grandnieces and nephews all of whom adored UB, Uncle Bill. Being a member of a large Irish Catholic family, Bill is also survived by many very close cousins who were like siblings to him in the Maher, Cullinan, and Flynn families. One cousin described him as funny, spirited, smart, generous, animated, interesting, and witty. The list could go on and on.

Bill was preceded in death by his son, Danny Griffin, parents Brigid and David Flynn, brothers SA Patrick Flynn, David Flynn, brothers-in-law, Jack Maguire and Charlie Donnelly, sisters-in-law Kathy Hernandez, Nancy Davis, and Cheryl Deans and nephew, Phillip Deans. Bill was a very devout and moral man who attended daily mass and was very proud of all his Reilly and Flynn nieces and nephews.

May the road rise up to meet you Bill,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Notes:

Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Bill’s funeral will be held at St. Mildred Roman Catholic Church in Swansboro, NC. Date and time to be determined.