FLANAGAN, Charles J., Winthrop Fire Chief (Ret.) at the age of 86, a WWII, U.S. Navy veteran, died peacefully on June 5, 2012. Beloved husband of 64 years, to Marilyn (Floyd) Flanagan. Devoted father of three sons, Chief Paul Flanagan and his wife Susan of Winthrop, Capt. Charles Flanagan and his wife Trisha of Winthrop, Robert Flanagan and his wife Linda of Summit, N.J., and four grandchildren: Andrew Flanagan of Newburyport, and Julie, Jeff and Paul Flanagan of Summit, N.J. Dear brother of the late Helen Gilbert, Lillian Kennedy and Ruth Sores. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home 210 Winthrop St. WINTHROP, on Sat, June 9, at 9am. A Funeral Mass will be said in St. John the Evangelist Church 320 Winthrop St. Winthrop, at 10am. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will be in Winthrop Cemetery, Cross St. Section. Visiting hours are Fri. only, 4-8pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Winthrop Fire Department Building Improvement Fund, care of Chief, Winthrop Fire Department, 40 Pauline St., Winthrop, MA 02152. Chief Flanagan was inducted into the Winthrop Athletic Hall of Fame for his athletic contributions on the Winthrop High School baseball, basketball and football teams. He was a member of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He was a member of the Winthrop Fire Dept. for 44 years until his retirement in 1990. His four-decade career was marked by some of the most spectacular disasters in the town’s history, from an airliner crash to devastating storms, a prison riot and dozens of major fires and lifesaving rescues. His legacy will continue on in the town on Christmas Eve, with the traditional visit from Santa Claus riding on the top of a Winthrop fire engine through every neighborhood in town. The Santa visits began modestly, with Santa wearing a borrowed suit. Townspeople were so happy with the first Christmas Eve visit that then-Captain Flanagan led an effort to raise money to buy a high quality Santa suit and three reindeer. Other firefighters built the original sleigh, and Chief Flanagan mapped out the route. He played the role of Santa for five years, turning the part over to other firefighters as the years passed. Continuing the tradition, Capt. Chuck Flanagan has been Santa Clause for the past 20 years, riding behind the same three reindeer that were purchased back in the 1950s. For guestbook and directions, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.