Thomas Francis Flynn, the second of five children of Owen Eugene Flynn and Mary Agnes Kearns, was born in Camden, New Jersey, on June 17, 1912. His early education was in his home parish where he attended St. Mary's Grammar School and St. Mary's High School. Following high school he went to work for a time as a dockworker and also spent a year in the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1935 he continued his education at Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island, graduating with a bachelor's degree in sociology and languages in 1939.

On August 15, 1939, he entered the novitiate of the Province of St. Joseph at St. Rose Priory, Springfield, Kentucky, and received the religious name Valerian. He made his profession there on August 16, 1940 and was sent to the Dominican House of Studies at River Forest, Illinois for philosophical studies. On October 12, 1940, he took advantage of the terms of the establishment of the Province on St. Albert the Great and transfiliated to the new province. Following his final profession on August 16, 1943, he began his theological studies at the House of Studies in River Forest, obtaining the Lector in Sacred Theology degree in 1946. Bishop William O'Brien, Auxiliary of Chicago, ordained him a priest there on June 18, 1946.

Father Flynn's first assignment in 1947 was as an instructor in philosophy at the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. This was the beginning of a teaching ministry which was to be the focus of his Dominican life for many years, first at the College of St. Thomas (1947-49), then in the following years at De Paul University, Chicago, Illinois (1949-54), Xavier College, Chicago, Illinois (1954-55), Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois (1955-57), the Dominican Sisters' Novitiate, Rosaryville, Louisiana (1957-60), Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa (1960- 64), Aquinas Newman Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico (1964-68) and the University of Dallas, Irving, Texas (1968-70). While teaching he continued his own studies and obtained a Ph.D. degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Faculty of Philosophy, River Forest, Illinois. During this time he also lectured for the Thomist Association and spent many summers teaching at colleges and motherhouses throughout the Midwest and giving retreats.

Following a year's sabbatical for scripture studies at the Catholic University of America, Father Flynn took up campus ministry at the University of Houston, serving there until 1974 when he moved to Galveston, Texas, and became a chaplain at St. Mary's Hospital. In 1976 he moved to Denver, Colorado, where he developed a program of scripture courses for adults which he presented in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Denver. During this time he also carried on part-time hospital ministry in the Denver area.

Over the years he served as director of Dominican Laity chapters in Chicago, River Forest, Illinois, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and in later years as conventual lector at St. Dominic Priory, Denver, Colorado. He was a member of the committee which investigated the possible relocation of the novitiate of the Province and whose report resulted in its

move to Denver. He was a voracious reader whose active mind never tired of learning new things. In the spring of 1996, he suffered a broken hip which began a gradual decline in health. Circulatory problems resulting from diabetes caused him to be hospitalized for surgery in late January 1997. He died unexpectedly at St. Anthony Central Hospital on February 4, 1997. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Dominic Church, Denver, Colorado, February 10, 1997, with burial in the Dominican plot at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Denver, Colorado.