Mary Q. Flinn

Lansing, NY

Mary Quick Flinn, of Ridge Road, Lansing, passed away Monday (May 2, 2016) surrounded by her family.

Born April 24, 1938 in White Plains, NY to Almon D. and Mary Pabor Quick, she was a local horse breeder for many years with Clydesdales as her passion on her farm, Starlane Farms, and later with Shetland ponies as a breeder for Personal Ponies, Ltd. She also enjoyed many creative activities like quilting and weaving, had beautiful flower gardens around her home, was devoted to her cats, and was a world traveler with a special love of the British Isles.

She graduated from Katonah High School in 1956 and attended Cornell University, class of 1960, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a minor in Animal Husbandry.
She joyfully sang in the choir at the First Congregational Church of Ithaca for 52 years, was in the Auraca Herbarists for many years, is a past president and first female president of the Clydesdale Breeders of the USA and in 2009 was inducted into the Heritage Hall of Fame of the Clydesdale Breeders Association.  She was the first single-generation inductee and was a pioneer for women in the draft horse breeding world, showing her Clydesdales at the New York State Fair for 35 years, as well as at other shows around the country and at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, Canada, earning many awards.  She belonged to the Cleveland Bay Horse Society and was a past president of the Cherry Valley Carriage Association.  She was a reluctant Rotary spouse, supporting her husband’s community service passion.
She married David G. Flinn, originally of Greenwich, CT, on April 8, 1961.
She is survived by her husband, son Dale (Gayle) Flinn of Lansing, Glenn (Darlene) Flinn of Lansing, sister Susan Quick of Ithaca, and grandchildren Corey (Michelle) Flinn of Lansing and Elizabeth Flinn-Brown of Auburn, NY.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

There will be a celebration of her life at a later date, details to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be directed to Personal Ponies, Ltd. at www.personalponies.org or a charity of the donor’s choice.