Obituary of William H Flanigan

FLANIGAN, WILLIAM H.

Died on March 19th at the age of 92.

Born and raised in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1954 at the Army Language School in Monterey, CA, and in Linz, Austria. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wabash College and received an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University. In 1961, he accepted a teaching position in the Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota, where he taught for the next forty-five years, rising through the ranks and retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2005. He served his department in various stints as Director of Graduate Studies and Placement Director, and the wider university, as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics, perhaps his favorite assignment.

An engaged and collaborative scholar, he coauthored, with his wife Nancy Zingale, a text on elections and voting which went through twelve editions before being passed on to younger authors, along with other books and articles. Active in the wider academic community, he was a founding member of the Social Science History Association, serving later as its president; an active member of the Midwest and American Political Science Associations; and the U of M’s long-time Official Representative to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research.

Preceded in death by his parents, his brother David, and his infant granddaughter, Paige. Survived by his wife, Nancy, his children Julia of Coconut Creek, FL, Daniel (Kelly) and Stephen, of Minneapolis, and granddaughters, Emily and Quinn.

We will remember Bill as a smart and funny guy, an engaging teacher, a generous colleague, a perfect husband, a great dad, and an adored and adoring grandpa.

A reception to remember and celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, April 13, from 4 – 6 p.m., with a short program at 5 p.m., at the University Club, 420 Summit Avenue in St. Paul. On-street parking and complimentary valet parking will be available.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to the graduate programs in the Department of Political Science (c/o University of Minnesota Foundation, https://give.umn.edu) or your favorite charity.