Friends of Immaculate

IC Hall of Fame

IC Hall of Fame

2010 HONOREES

Edward J. Flynn

Edward J. Flynn was born on May 10, 1937, the eldest of seven children born to Harry & Anne Flynn of Brush Road.  He graduated from IC School in 1951 and Northeast Catholic HS in 1955. 

Ed had a special lifelong relationship with the Vincentians and IHM Sisters.  He always felt he received the best education at Immaculate, and if there was anything he could do to repay these wonderful teachers and priests, he would surely do it.  Even after moving from Immaculate, Ed participated in parish fund-raising and continued to offer personal financial support.  Ed had a special affection for all the clergy, and they had the same for him. 

His first full-time job was in sales with Miller, Bain & Beyer, a dry goods supplier of clothing and linens for religious women. With an already strong relationship with the sisters, the job was a natural for Ed and he excelled.  In 1972, he co-founded Flynn & O’Hara, a maker of school uniforms that soon grew to be an industry leader.  Successful, but always humble, he was always quick to help if a sister or lay person ever expressed a family’s need for uniforms.  

Ed was an active member of BLOCS, a business community program established to provide access to Catholic education to those in need.  He also served on the Board of Directors for the Sisters of St. Joseph for many years.

Ed married IC alum Eileen Brett in 1962.  They have four children: Kevin, Sean, Meganne and Eireann.  Sadly, Ed passed away on April 6, 2008.  A loss felt by many, his life and legacy lives on through his work and family.  Industrious, hardworking, generous, good-natured and fun-loving, these were all attributes associated with Ed his entire life. Ed is truly deserving of the honor of induction into the IC Hall of Fame.

Rev. Richard J. Rock, C.M.

Fr. Richard J. Rock, C.M. was born on December 1, 1945 in the Bronx, NY.  He grew up in Astoria, NY, attended Immaculate Conception School. St. John’s Prep and then graduated from St. Joseph’s HS in 1963.  He entered the St. Joseph’s Seminary in 1963 and was ordained into the Vincentian order on May 26, 1973.

Upon ordination, Fr. Rock’s first assignment was as youth director for Immaculate Conception and St. Vincent de Paul parishes in Germantown.  In September 1974, he was assigned as curate to Immaculate Conception Parish.  He served in this capacity until September 1982, when he was assigned to serve as campus minister to St. Michael’s in Auburn, Alabama.  In June 1983, he was assigned as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Germantown, where he served until September 1989.  At this time, he was assigned to campus ministry at St. John’s University in New York City.  In September 1990, he was assigned as chaplain and intake worker to Covenant House.  In September 1993, he was assigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Germantown, where he would serve until September 2000.  He was then assigned serve as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Germantown.  In September 2007, he returned as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Germantown, where he serves today.

In all, 32 of the 37 years of Fr. Rock’s ministry as a Vincentian priest have been spent in Germantown., with 16 of those years at Immaculate Conception.  The ever-popular Fr. Rock is much beloved in IC circles, by both current and former parishioners, and is so deserving of induction into the IC Hall of Fame.

Joe Coll

Joe Coll was born in 1942, one of several children of Marge and Joe Coll of 1123 E. Price Street.  He graduated from IC School in 1956, Cardinal Dougherty HS in 1960 and LaSalle University in 1964.   

Joe’s growing up years in Germantown and at IC were very active ones.  He was an altar server to the age of 17, active in Boy Scout Troop 118 until the age of 17, and was active in CYO sports, namely football, baseball and basketball.  He also played pickup games at East Germantown Recreation Center with neighborhood friends, and held a part-time job at a local grocery store.  In addition, for two summers of his HS years, he worked as a summer camp counselor at Treasure Island Boy Scout Camp.

Joe’s lifelong love of the Church and his deep Catholic faith is rooted with his parents, instilled further and deeper by the Vincentians and the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  He views life as an opportunity to live the Gospel.  He supports this with attendance at Mass, spiritual readings, like-minded friendships, membership in Our House Ministries, being an associate of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is a longtime friend and supporter of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Pro Life Union and Generation Life.  He returns to IC often, and his generosity to the parish, the community and the religious communities knows no bounds.   

Joe married Colleen Kelly in 1968, and they have two children, Ryan and Moira.  He has been the proprietor of the Glenside Pub for the past 33 years. 

Joe feels both blessed and humbled by the honor of induction into the IC Hall of Fame.  It is an honor he truly deserves, for he is a person whose success and character fully reflects the values, spirit and traditions of this grand parish.

Congratulations....

to these very-worthy and deserving individuals, and to their families.

It is our honor, to honor you, with induction into the IC Hall of Fame!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~