In Memoriam: Michael Flanagan (1947-2011)

Michael Flanagan, a former Fleet Management, Leasing Executive, and Consultant, passed away on Christmas Eve, 2011, in Kernersville, NC, after a long and difficult illness. Flanagan was a longtime supporter of NAFA and contributor to the fleet industry.

The son of Irish immigrants, Flanagan grew up in the Bronx, NY. After a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1965 to 1967, he began his fleet career at CIT Service Leasing in 1968 in New York City, in purchasing and used car sales. He was promoted to the company’s Chicago sales office in 1969.

Flanagan worked for Al Cavalli at CIT and made an impression on his superior. "I remember Mike well. He worked for me in used car sales at CIT Service Leasing as a young man recently out of the Marines. He was a big fella and a hard worker," Cavalli recalled. "From there he was made our District Sales Manager in Chicago and the rest is history, having made a name for himself in the industry. I'm sure he'll be missed by his many friends."

In 2008, upon the event of Flanagan's 40th Anniversary with NAFA, he wrote, "(In 1968), it was also the year I joined NAFA. Those jobs were a great learning process and got me transferred to Chicago to sell and service our clients and Fleet Managers in nine states."

After CIT, Flanagan worked for Genway Fleet, Gambles C & M (which became DK Financial), and then GE Fleet as Regional Vice President. He then served as Regional Vice President for USFL & Associates Fleet, working there from 1991 until 1997. "I’m very proud of joining NAFA and serving as Chairman of NAFA affiliates in 1993 and also serving as President of AFLA during that same year," Flanagan recalled during his anniversary.

Flanagan then segued into fleet consulting with SGS, then later joined Atlantic/Millennium, a retail dealer and leasing company in Long Island, NY, before retiring in 2005.

George Argueta, Marketing Manager for Corporate Claims Management, remembered Flanagan as a "beloved husband, father, grandfather, and ex-Marine. I know he is now with God and without pain. I will miss him and the memory of that Irish face."

Flanagan is survived by his wife Kathryn, his three children, and five grandchildren, of whom he spoke during his anniversary conversation: "The best part of life in these forty years was marrying Kathy. We have three children and, now, grandchildren."

NAFA Fleet Management Association
125 Village Blvd., Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540

Telephone: 609.720.0882 Fax: 609.452.8004