Leo Flynn was born in Sydney in 1901, the fourth of nine surviving children of Dr John and Maud Flynn. From his Irish father he inherited a thirst for knowledge and a pride in home and family, while from his mother, who was of English and Irish descent, a wisdom and generosity mingled with great practicality. After completing his secondary education at Marist Brothers, Darlinghurst, he proceeded to the University of Sydney, where he studied medicine. His five brothers chose the same medical path and together they created a record at the University for the greatest number of men from one family to graduate in the faculty. They all went on to distinguish themselves in their chosen fields; three as opthalmologists, one as a dermatologist, another as a surgeon and Leo as a specialist physician.

During his university days, he succesfully combined academic studies with prowess in hockey. He won a University blue, represented the Combined Australian Universities, was a NSW state blue and an Australian representative. Graduating in 1924, Leo was appointed resident house surgeon at Sydney Hospital and later joined the house staff at Lewisham Hospital where he became superintendent, followed by an appointment as assistant physician. His association with this hospital was to last nearly four decades. During this time, he was a member of the Hospital's medical advisory council between 1939-59 and honorary secretary for twelve years. He finally retired as senior physician in 1965.

After his father's death in 1926, Leo carried on his father's general practice in College Street. His skill as an anaesthetist was also much sought after. In 1929, Leo married his childhood sweetheart and lifelong love, Dorothea Hickey. The first of their six children was born in 1930. Leo became a Member of the RACP in 1939, moving his practice to Macquarie Street, Sydney. Throughout his years at Lewisham Hospital and Macuqarie Street, Leo was consulted by people from all walks of life. Because of his sound medical judgement, many a patient became a lifelong friend. In 1959, he became a Fellow of the College. He was also chairman or honorary secretary of the City Medical Association (affiliated local association of the NSW Branch BMA) between 1932-40.

Leo was appointed as the first physician to St Margaret's Women's Hospital in 1938. He gave invalubale assitance to many mothers with complications in pregnancy. He was a member of the advisory board from 1961, a member of the medical board from 1959, its chariman 1963-68 and chiarman of the honorary medical staff 1963-68. This was a period of great development for St Margaret's Hospital. Leo was very active in the negotiations associated with its inception, in 1964, as a clinical school of the University of Sydney and between 1964-7, he was the honorary clinical lecturer in obstetric medicine. The Children's Hospital was opened in 1967, becoming a training school for nursing in 1968.

During the war, Leo enlisted in the RAAF and on cessation of hostilities, remained attached to the service as a consultant physician, retiring in 1960 as honorary group captain. On retirement from Lewisham and St Margaret's Hospitals, Leo regularly visited the terminally ill at Calvary Hospital, Kogarah, as a visiting physician and continued practicing at Bellevue Hill after leaving his rooms in Macquarie Street.

The words, spoken at his requiem mass by his priest/doctor/son, epitomise Leo's life and his deep Catholic faith:

The real Leo, the real life was the man of faith - living with the God of whom he was persistently aware, who was the backdrop of his conscious living, of his decisions, his service, his caring, his friendship, his love. Dad lived in God's world and loved it and loved living but he did it with God in friendship.

He had a tremendous love for people, was a witty and very entertaining raconteur and was a man with many varied interests. Saturdays were often spent at Randwick as a member of the AJC. He was a very keen enthusiast of horse racing and breeding and was a part-owner of "Keewatin", who won several races at Randwick. In later years bowls became an important sideline for him. He was a frequent winner of the Wednesday "Pairs" competition, from which he would proudly return home, armed with his prize of a frozen chook. A keen gardener, he frequently claimed to have grown the best tomatoes in Bellevue Hill and was very proud of his spring showing of a variety of beautiful orchids. He loved the counrty and frequently spent holidays in Goulburn or Mudgee.

His years in retirement were made rich with his enjoyment of his family and twenty-two grandchildren. They in turn loved him dearly. He was very involved in their lives - never dominating but always supportive. He added much joy and hilarity on family occasions, such as Christmas Day, when he would participate in the after-midday dinner game of backyard cricket, as instructor, unpire and sometimnes even player (players ranging between two and eighty). He showed remarkable agility for a man of his years, holding many a catch much to the joy oh his young admirers. All thgough his life Leo's great gift was his ability to listen with empathy and to give of his time, to direct gently and provide wise counsel. He was ever ready with the benefit of his experience to help anyone who came to him for advice and many a young doctor starting out in practice was given a guiding hand. To many he became a father figure and to all who knew him a man of healing and truly a "beloved physician".