Russ Flanagan

Infobox Writer
name = Russell J. Flanagan


imagesize =
caption = Russell J. Flanagan
pseudonym = Russ Flanagan
birthdate = death date|1974|5|21
birthplace = Denville, New Jersey
deathdate = death date|2008|2|5
deathplace = Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
occupation = Journalist
nationality = American
known_for = "The New Jersey Herald" "The Express-Times"

Russell J. Flanagan (May 21, 1974 – February 5, 2008), better known as Russ Flanagan, was a journalist for The Express-Times in Easton, Pennsylvania and The New Jersey Herald in Newton, New Jersey. He covered Northampton County courts for the last three years of his career. Flanagan was found dead in his Whitehall Township apartment at age 33.

Biography

Early life

Russ Flanagan was born May 21, 1974 in Denville, New Jersey to William and Carol Flanagan of Rockaway Township. He had one brother named Glenn, one sister named Danielle Grayson and a brother in-law Richard Grayson. He had two nephews, Derek and Liam and one niece Natalie. Flanagan lived in Rockaway Township for most of his life, before moving to Whitehall Township in 2003. He attended Morris County College in Randolph Township, New Jersey, then studied journalism at William Paterson University in Wayne, where he received his bachelor's degree.cite web |title=Russell J. Flanagan Obituary |work=Pennlive |url=http://obits.pennlive.com/ETPA/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=102912455 |date=2008-02-08 |accessmonthday=February 22 |accessyear=2008]

Journalism career

]

Flanagan joined The Express-Times in April 2003 as a police reporter. In October 2005, he was reassigned to the Northampton County Courthouse, where he covered trials, sentencing, hearings, civil litigation and the district attorney's office.cite web |title=Express-Times reporter found dead; autopsy inconclusive |work=Pennlive |url=http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/02/expresstimes_reporter_found_de.html |date=2008-02-06 |accessmonthday=February 22 |accessyear=2008]

Personal life

Flanagan was described by family and friends as personable, reliable, driven and constantly laughing and joking around. He enjoyed writing, photography, music, film and sports, particularly the New York Giants and the New York Yankees. His favorite movies were Star Wars, Fight Club, Casablanca, The Warriors, The Godfather and the films of The Coen Brothers and Wes Anderson.cite web |title=Express-Times reporter found dead; autopsy inconclusive |work=Pennlive |url=http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/02/expresstimes_reporter_found_de.html |date=2008-02-06 |accessmonthday=February 22 |accessyear=2008] On his MySpace page, Flanagan said of himself: "People generally find me amusing but no one cracks me up quite like myself. I guess that's because I get all my own jokes." [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=21152971 "Russ Flanagan's MySpace page."] "MySpace". Retrieved on 2008-9-22.]

Death

Co-workers at The Express-Times became concerned when Flanagan failed to appear to cover a murder trial on February 5, 2008. When he could not be reached all day, an editor drove to his Whitehall apartment and called the police, who found Flanagan dead in the apartment.cite web |title=Express-Times reporter found dead; autopsy inconclusive |work=Pennlive |url=http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/02/expresstimes_reporter_found_de.html |date=2008-02-06 |accessmonthday=February 22 |accessyear=2008] After more than a month, an autopsy concluded the death was due to an unknown cardiac condition which led to a hardening of the arteries and a build-up of plaque that caused decreased blood flow. cite web |title=Express-Times reporter's death due to natural causes |work=Pennlve |url=http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/03/expresstimes_reporters_death_d.html |date=2008-03-25 |accessmonthday=March 25 |accessyear=2008]

Funeral services were held February 11 at the St. Clement Pope & Martyr Church in Rockaway Township, New Jersey.cite web |title=Russell J. Flanagan Obituary |work=Pennlive |url=http://obits.pennlive.com/ETPA/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=102912455 |date=2008-02-08 |accessmonthday=February 22 |accessyear=2008] On February 15, about 250 family members, colleagues and friends gathered at the Northampton County Courthouse to remember Flanagan. Speakers at the service memorial service included his brother-in-law Richard Grayson, Northampton County Judge Paula Roscioli, Express-Times City Editor Eileen Holliday and Express-Times Editor Joseph P. Owens. Owens announced that the newspaper's internship would be renamed the Russell J. Flanagan Memorial Scholarship.cite web |title=FFamily, colleagues remember fine journalist and funny guy |work=The Express-times |url=http://www.pennlive.com/expresstimes/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1203138350232851.xml&coll=2 |last=Wichert |first=Bill |date=2008-02-16 |accessmonthday=February 22 |accessyear=2008]

In an Express-Times article about Flanagan, Owens recalled: "He was the kind of guy -- rock-solid reliable -- that if he was working a shift, you knew anything that came along would be handled. He was a veteran newsman who understood how to get the job done."cite web |title=Express-Times reporter found dead; autopsy inconclusive |work=Pennlive |url=http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/02/expresstimes_reporter_found_de.html |date=2008-02-06 |accessmonthday=February 22 |accessyear=2008]

References