The Madeira Elementary School community is mourning the sudden and unexpected death of their beloved principal, Chris Flanagan, who passed away on Monday night, April 24, 2023. Flanagan was 50 years old and leaves behind a wife and four children, as well as hundreds of students and staff who admired and respected him. The cause of his death has not been disclosed by the city or the school district.
A Leader with a Positive Impact
Flanagan had been the principal of Madeira Elementary School since 2019, after serving as an assistant principal at Mercer Elementary and a principal at Ayer Elementary in the Forest Hills School District. He was known for his enthusiasm, kindness, and dedication to his students and staff. He was also praised for his quick and courageous response to a plane crash that occurred near his school in 2019, when he helped evacuate the students and staff to safety.
According to WLWT, Flanagan’s brother-in-law, Brian Leonard, said at his funeral service that Flanagan was his best friend and a great person. “To say I was lucky is a vast understatement. I would venture to guess there’s at least 20 to 25 people in attendance today that also have a rightful claim to Flan being their best friend, and they are not wrong,” Leonard said.
A Community in Grief
The news of Flanagan’s death shocked and saddened the Madeira community, which showed its support and solidarity by wearing green, Flanagan’s favorite color, on Tuesday. The city also lowered its flags to half-staff by order of Gov. Mike DeWine, who issued a statement honoring Flanagan’s life and service. The school district canceled classes on Tuesday to allow the students, staff, and families to process the loss.
Anna Horne, a parent of two children at Madeira Elementary School, told WLWT that Flanagan was a wonderful neighbor and a daily delight. “That’s the part I will miss the most about him is he was an interesting and wonderful neighbor to have and to spend time with and to get to know just by seeing. There’s not many people you see almost every day and he was one of them for us,” Horne said.
A Legacy of Love
Flanagan’s funeral service was held on Monday, May 1, 2023, at Good Shepherd Church in Montgomery. Hundreds of people attended the service to pay their respects and celebrate his life. Flanagan’s family also set up a GoFundMe page to help with the expenses and support his wife and children.
Flanagan’s obituary described him as “a man who loved God, his family, friends, colleagues, students, sports (especially Notre Dame), music (especially U2), movies (especially Star Wars), books (especially Harry Potter), traveling (especially Ireland), and life.” It also stated that he “will be remembered for his infectious smile, his warm hugs, his genuine interest in others, his sense of humor, his leadership skills, his passion for education, his faith in God, and his love for his family.”
Flanagan’s death is a tragic loss for the Madeira Elementary School community and beyond. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him and touched by his legacy of love.
