Obituary of Morgan O'Flaherty

Morgan O'Flaherty, of Sunnyside, NY, and County Kerry, Ireland, died July 12, in Elmhurst Hospital. He was 59. A beautiful life, gone much too soon. Morgan was born Sept. 29, 1956, in Ballyhoneen, Cloghane, County Kerry, to Thomas and Eileen (née Courtney) O'Flaherty. Following national school in Ballyduff, Cloghane, and secondary school on Carraignavar, County Cork, he earned a degree from University College Dublin. Morgan had been teaching school in Dublin for nine years when his friend, Timothy Mahony, introduced him to his future wife, Catherine Harrington, on Easter Sunday, 1985. Despite him being in Dublin and she in Tralee, County Kerry, their relationship grew into marriage on July 5, 1986. They settled in Kerry where he began a new career with New York Life Insurance Co. in Castleisland. Then in 1989, with Donnelly visas in hand, he and Catherine began a new adventure when they moved to New York. His dream was to come to America and become a successful screenplay writer, while he continued his career with New York Life on Madison Avenue rather than Broadway, he enjoyed his career immensely. He worked diligently but in his free time, the raconteur came out, and he told great stories about his experiences and his wonderful colleagues. He never lost his interest in movie-making, and retired last November to enjoy some free time and concentrate on writing screenplays. He also enjoyed acting in two movies by local filmmaker Tommy Turner and cameraman Terry Murphy, making quite a name for himself as a Black Knight of Skillman. His heroes were Warren Oates and Sam Peckinpah, the actor and director of his favorite movie, "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia." He also loved John Ford Movies and film noir. But what Morgan really loved was life. As he was fond of saying, "The great thing about living is living," and "Maximize every day." He certainly did that. He enjoyed his Tullamore Dew, and spent many happy hours with Paul, Fiona, Bernie and Kevin in Flynn's Garden Inn. Kind and generous to friends, family and strangers alike, he never passed the homeless men in Sunnyside without giving a donation. He loved animals too, especially Aida, the cat he shared with Catherine. Morgan also enjoyed his twice yearly trips back to Ireland to visit his brother, Thomas, his wife, Eileen, and their family, as well as his adopted family, the Harringtons. "He loved all of my family as much as his own, and they, in turn, adored him," said Catherine. "Morgan loved to stay in my old home in Ballincullig. Looking across the valley at night, down at the lights of Tralee, he would say it reminded him of Los Angeles." Morgan was deeply religious, praying daily to St. Martin de Porres. During his final difficult struggles, his St. Martin prayer remained on his place at the table or bedside. Sadly, he entered eternal life on July 12 despite the valiant efforts of a kind neighbor, paramedics and the wonderful staff at Elmhurst Hospital. But just as you don't forget the tune when a song fades, Morgan's family and friends will never forget the priceless memories he has left behind. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís ann. There will not be his like again. Visitation will be Saturday, July 16 from 2-5PM and 7-9PM at Edward D. Lynch Funeral Home, Inc, 43-07 Queens Boulevard, Sunnyside, NY with a Prayer Service at 4pm. Burial will take place at Clogher Cemetery, Clogher, Co. Kerry, Ireland