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MANCHESTER – David Flanagan, the public sector “turnaround specialist” of his generation, died at home on Oct. 13, 2021, from pancreatic cancer.
Central Maine Power, the University of Southern Maine, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were three of the many civic institutions that David helped lead out of crisis to stability. The iconic and lasting image of Flanagan is wearing a hard hat in the driving snow consulting with CMP line workers about how to restore power after the devastating 1998 Ice Storm.
David Thomas Flanagan was born in Bangor on June 28, 1947, the son of Thomas Shea Flanagan and Constance Coleman Flanagan, both members of the “greatest generation” of Americans. David was the first of eight children. The family lived in Hampden and then Portland. In an early sign of his leadership skills, David was elected president of the class of ’65 at Deering High School. David went on to Harvard College, Kings College of the University of London, and Boston College Law School.
In 1974, David married his lifelong partner, friend, and advisor, the former Kathleen Kelleher, at Two Lights State Park. Kaye and David have spent their lives together making Maine a better place through their board memberships and charitable efforts. They have also enjoyed boating on Cobbosseecontee Lake with family and friends, and traveling together to over 60 foreign lands.
During law school, David worked as staff to the Maine Senate, where he befriended an up-and-coming politician named Joe Brennan. He then worked as attorney to the newly created Maine Bureau of Public Lands, addressing controversial issues of public lands and spruce budworm management. In 1978, David became general counsel to newly elected Governor Joseph...
