Soccer, Football, Tennis (& Motorbiking)
Yesterday while at the Palm Beach History Museum, I had the great fortune and pleasure of meeting a Palm Beach contemporary of Sean’s and of George Hamilton, who funded and hosted the film and exhibit we were viewing. Out of our conversation spun some spontaneous research leading to the following confirmation that Sean played both flag football and soccer for his school, the Palm Beach Private Day School.
From the Palm Beach Post:
Soccer Begins
February 1957
“The Palm Beach Private School varsity teams and Ransom School of Miami played to a 1-1 tie in the local school’s first home soccer game of the season here Thursday. The one goal for Palm Beach was scored by Sean Flynn.”
Football
October, 1956
“Palm Beach Private Day School opens its touch football season today at 2 p.m. against Webster-Tufts School at Lake Worth. Line-up for the Private School: Bob Kolb, RE, Dale McNulty, C, Sean Flynn, LE, Nick Smith, QB, John Logsdon. RH, and ….”
Dad
Summer, 1956
And here’s Sean with Errol only a few months earlier, in the summer of ’56. He looks very happy and proud to be with his Dad, an occasion that surely helped inspire and enhance Sean’s athletic success that ’56/’57 school year.
Gigi Phillips, a schoolmate of Sean’s, recalls:
“I went to school with Sean at Palm Beach Private back in the 50’s. He was older than I was, but was always so kind to me. Once he left Palm Beach, he would return to the school on his vacation. I have fond memories of him helping me with my math homework.
“Sean was a fine teenager when I knew him. Friendly to everyone, even the younger students. Gave anyone who asked rides on his motorcycle. His mother doted on him. I’m sure she was devastated when he disappeared.”
And from the gorgeous Gita Hall, who was dating Errol during this time, in fact she and Errol were out on the town in the Big Apple quite a bit the very week of Sean’s soccer success in early February of ’57:
“I knew Sean through his father who was so proud of him. I watched him play tennis, got to spend some quality time with him on several occasions. What a rare outstanding young man and what a tragedy that he lost his life at such a young age.”
— Tim
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