Daniel “Dan” Thomas Flavin (67) passed away on Thursday, June 6, 2024 with his loving wife, children and family at his side.
Dan was born in Joliet, IL on May 31, 1957 to William and Marilyn (Condon) Flavin.
Dan flourished as the fourth of eight children in an active Irish Catholic family, spending his early years in Joliet. He graduated from St. Patrick Elementary School and attended Joliet Catholic High School as a freshman, where he played football as a running back, before his family moved to Lake Charles in the summer of 1972. Dan graduated from Alfred M. Barbe High School and attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles.
Dan was married to the love of his life, Lisa Jones Flavin atOur Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church on January 12, 1980 in Lake Charles. Dan and Lisa raised their family of six children as very involved members of the Lake Charles community. Their connections to Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish and St. Louis Catholic High School were the foundational cornerstones of their lives as they raised their family.
Dan’s professional career spanned decades building and leading Flavin Realty, Inc. into the preeminent real estate firm in Southwest Louisiana. As a realtor, Dan was a past chairman of the Louisiana Real Estate Commission and past president of the Greater Calcasieu Board of Realtors. Dan received the “Realtor of the Year” award in Calcasieu Parish on two separate occasions. Dan was active with the National Association of Realtors and Louisiana Realtors Association, where he also served as trustee. Dan is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Pioneer Club of Lake Charles.
Dan’s political career saw him serving as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1996 to 2005 representing District 36 – Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes. In the legislature Dan was actively involved in road projects, economic development, education, commerce and insurance. He served on the Commerce, Retirement, Natural Resources and House Executive Committees. Dan actively and aggressively advocated for the Southwest Louisiana area during his entire tenure in office. He took great pride in fighting for the right cause. Dan was renowned for maintaining wonderful political relationships regardless of what side of the aisle was represented.
Dan received a special papal award from Pope Benedict XVI on May 17, 2010 when he was designated a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.
Despite Dan’s many accomplishments, he took his greatest pleasure when he was hosting or involved with any of his 20 grandchildren. Dan will be remembered as an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, brother, businessman, civic leader and legislator who aided the Lake Charles community and its citizens in countless ways. His intuitive sense of fairness and assisting those in need were his trademarks. Dan’s great sense of humor and quick Irish wit will be long remembered and sorely missed by all.
Dan was preceded in death, by his parents William and Marilyn Flavin, father and mother-in-law Roger and Wanda (Miller) Pearson Jones and grandchild Samuel Joseph.
Dan is survived by his wife Lisa; children Beau (Tricia), Brent (Amanda), M. Brady (Louise), Robert (Sarah), Benjamin and Bonnie; grandchildren Anna Catherine, Adelaide, William, Elizabeth Marie, John, Andrew, P. Sander, Mary Agnes, P. Annie, Lucy Jane, Cecilia, Collette, Dorothy, Marilyn Minor, Florence, Virginia, Bridget, Margaret, M. Barry, and Corinne. Also surviving are Dan’s siblings Robert (Susan), Gary (Pam), Patricia, Timothy (Kathy), Mary Margaret, Thomas (Sharon) and James (Kelly) as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 3939 Lake Street. Interment will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will begin Wednesday evening, June 12, 2023, at 4:00 PM in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 935 Bilbo St., Lake Charles, with a Rosary and Eulogy at 7:30 PM. Visitation will resume Thursday morning at 8:00 AM in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel, 4321 Lake Street, and continue until leaving in procession to Our Lady Queen of Heaven church for the 10:00 AM funeral mass.
Dan’s funeral will be led by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Honor Guard.
The pallbearers for Dan’s funeral are as follows:
Sons: Beau, Brent, M. Brady, Robert and Benjamin Flavin
Grandsons: William, John, Andrew, P. Sander and M. Barry Flavin
Brothers: Robert, Gary, Timothy, Thomas and James Flavin
Brother-in-law: Greg Fontenot
Special thanks go out to Dan’s personal physicians, Drs. Gary Kohler, King White, Chris Thompson and Edward Hebert who each attended to Dan’s medical needs over the past several years. The family is very grateful to the doctors, nurses and medical staff at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital that cared for Dan. A personal thank you goes out to Dr. Benjamin Azevedo who was so deeply passionate and involved with Dan’s care until the time of his death.
In Dan’s honor memorials can be made to Diocese of Lake Charles Priest Retirement Fund, Po Box 3223 Lake Charles, LA 70601.
