Mutual of America Chairman Emeritus, and Peacemaker, Dies at 91

Outside of the insurance industry, Flynn was known for his efforts to help bring peace to Northern Ireland.

He was Northern Island project director at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, a group that tries to resolve conflicts that threaten the interests of the United States.

Flynn helped persuade former President Bill Clinton to grant a U.S. visa for Gerry Adams, the president of Ireland's Sinn Féin political organization, so that Adams could attend a conference in 1994, according to Irish America Magazine, which named Flynn to its 2011 Hall of Fame.

Flynn later led two delegations to Northern Ireland to promote investments in the region, according to Irish America.

The National Committee on American Foreign Policy says Flynn helped spur two ceasefires in Northern Ireland. The committee renamed its Initiative for Peace Award after Flynn in 2001.

Flynn was born in New York in 1926. He served in the Air Force, in Texas and in Washington, D.C., during the Korean conflict era.

He earned a master's degree in economics from Fordham University.

He started out working in risk management at the retirement and long-term care insurance operations at Equitable Life Assurance Society of America, according to Irish America. When he left Equitable to join Mutual of America, he was senior vice president of pension operations.

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