Katherine E. Flynn Drummond

Kay’s funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, August 4, from Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg, with a Mass in St. Bernard’s Parish at St. Camillus Church, 333 Mechanic St. at 11:00am. Burial will follow in St. Bernard’s Cemetery.

Calling hours will be held in the funeral home on Friday, August 3, from 4-7pm.

In lieu of flowers contributions in her memory may be made to the Fitchburg State University Foundation/Kay Flynn Scholarship, 160 Pearl St., Fitchburg, MA 01420.



Katherine (Kay) Flynn, 102, of Fitchburg, died on July 30, with her devoted family with her. She was born in Fitchburg, the daughter of John W. Drummond and Katherine Espie.

She is survived by her daughter Sandra Flynn Burns of Bolton, CT, her son William G. Flynn and his wife Jane of Lancaster, grandchildren, Katherine Burns and her husband James Gosse, Rebecca Burns and her husband Brian Buckley, Brendan Flynn and his wife Ashlee, and great grandchildren Lauren, Sarah, Robert and Kayden and her nieces and nephew. She was predeceased by her husband Attorney George F. Flynn, her brother John Drummond, her sister Margaret Bergeron, and her grandson Geoffrey Flynn Burns.

Kay earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Fitchburg State University and received a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Special Education from the University of Connecticut.

She began her forty-five year career as an educator and a special education teacher in Athol Public Schools and Edgerly School in Fitchburg before joining the Fitchburg State University’s Special Education Department.

She was best known for her enthusiastic approach to education. She was a mentor and role model to thousands of her college students who became teachers. One of her former students described her as having that special glow, a master teacher who inspired anyone who she came in contact with.

Kay was well known in the Massachusetts education community for her innovative approach to teaching. She was instrumental in shaping the curriculum of the FSU Special Education Department, the oldest in the state. She was chairperson for the Integrated Professional Program, served on numerous campus committees, and as an advisor to the Newman Club; she was influential in establishing the Newman Center, which served as the college chapel.

She received numerous awards and recognitions during her distinguished career, including the Joel Miller Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the teaching profession, and the FSU Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award. The faculty selected her to receive the Centennial Award given at the 100th anniversary of the founding of the University, citing her as representative of teaching excellence at the University. The Diocese of Worcester recognized her work with the Newman Association with the Pro Deo Pro Juventute Award.

In recognition of her years of service to the University and the Fitchburg community, she was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters at the 2002 commencement.

Kay was active in the community having served as a Girl Scout Leader, board member for the Beacon of Hope in Leominster, and on the Mentor Teacher Committee of the City of Fitchburg.