Longtime Pacific Palisades resident Ruth Flynn, known for her enchanting watercolor paintings and called “Patti” because she was born on St. Patrick’s day, passed away after a month-long struggle with pneumonia, February 7. She was 89. A gentle spirit who felt a distinct calling to create beauty with her work, Patti was a dedicated artist for over 60 years and she shared her passion for art with many. Born in New York City in 1916, young Ruth Mau began to draw and paint when she was confined to bed with scarlet fever for a time. Her family moved to Teaneck, New Jersey, where she graduated with honors from Teaneck High School in 1933. After attending the New York School of Design on a scholarship, she had a successful career as an illustrator in New York City which included artwork for pattern makers such as McCall’s and Butterick. Seeking serious instruction in painting, Patti eventually moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where she took special courses at the Rhode Island School of Design. She also studied at the Hans Hofmann School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In 1944, Patti joined the war effort as an American Red Cross volunteer. She became a staff assistant, and later director of the Red Cross Club in Eye, Suffolk, England, which provided support to the 490th bomb group, the 95th, and the 100th. After the war she was reassigned to Wurzburg, Germany, to open a club for the enlisted men of the First Infantry Division. While in Germany, Patti was able to attend proceedings of the war crimes trials at Nuremburg. Patti married Bernard James Flynn, also an artist, in 1947. They settled in Chappaqua, New York, and had three daughters. The family spent seven years in the Minneapolis area where Patti taught art at the Minnetonka Center for Arts and Education and continued to paint. When Bernard accepted work in Los Angeles in 1965, realtor Lelah Pierson, a family friend, helped the Flynns find a home in Pacific Palisades. Patti joined the Pacific Palisades Art Association where she served in various leadership positions over the years. She taught watercolor painting at The Brentwood Art Center in the 1970s, after which she taught privately at her studio in Castellammare. She was also active with Women Painter’s West and the Los Angeles Art Association. Patti worked in oils, acrylics, watercolor and various types of print making producing many landscapes, portraits, and still life paintings exhibited in numerous group shows. Her work was represented by local art galleries from Beverly Hills to Malibu and can be found in collections nationwide and in Europe. In later years, Patti’s zest for life was undiminished. She gave art instruction to groups on excursions, played tennis into her 80s, participated in exhibitions of Scottish country dancing, studied t’ai chi, gardened and was active with the Temescal Canyon Association, serving on the board of directors and as secretary for many years. Assisting on the creation of the Los Liones Canyon mural was one of Patti’s fondest memories, and she liked to visit the park often. Although Patti suffered from dementia in the last years of her life, she retained her positive outlook and her enthusiasm for watching tennis matches, movies and enjoying restaurants. A lifelong athlete, she was determined to get out for her daily walks so that she could be closer to the ocean she loved. She is survived by a sister, Evelyn Morse of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and daughters Karen Campbell of West Los Angeles, Kathe Flynn (husband Bob Kost) of Deephaven, Minnesota, Veronica Flynn of Mar Vista, and granddaughter of Julia Campbell of Berkeley, who will, along with those who knew her, hold her in loving memory. A memorial will be held at Los Liones Gateway Park, at the amphitheater across from the mural, at 2 p.m. on April 15, and is open to all. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Temescal Canyon Association. P.O. Box 1101, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, or to the American Red Cross.
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