Patsy Ruth Flanigan, president and CEO of Flanigan Farms Natural Foods, passed away Dec. 13, 2009, following a sudden brain hemorrhage.
She was a graduate of California State University Northridge, earning a bachelor of food science degree in 1979 at age 47. She was the recipient of the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award 2002.
In 1970, she and her husband, Owen, established Flanigan Farms Natural Foods with the goal to promote good health of mind, body and spirit. She sought to achieve a healthy community by concentrating on making natural foods widely available via supermarkets. Today Flanigan Farms displays are in nearly 1,000 outlets, including Vons, Ralph’s, Albertsons, Stater Brothers, Gelson’s, Bristol Farms, Food 4 Less and many independent markets.
The place she loved most was her certified organic persimmon grove in De Luz (San Diego County). After Owen’s death in 1992, Patsy ran Flanigan Farms with her daughters.
A strong believer in community service, Patsy was elected a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business in 1995. She served on the boards of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce, the Didi Hirsch Community Health Center, the American Heart Association-Los Angeles Affiliate and the Marilyn Magaram Center of CSUN.
Patsy was very active in serving the grocery industry and the esteemed Illuminator Organization as a member of the board 2000-03 in support of the California Grocers Association and the Western Association of Food Chains. She remained an active member with the Food Industry Sales Managers Club of Los Angeles and served as a director of the organization as well as holding many chair positions that included the distinguished Woman of the Industry annual event.
She was a member of the Heels & Souls Square Dance Club, the California Rare Fruit Growers, the Westside Home Economists and Toastmasters. She also enjoyed singing while driving on the freeway, writing poetry and she wrote many articles on health and vitality for publication.
A Celebration of Life service was held Jan. 10 in Culver City. The family has requested that donations be made to the California State University Northridge Foundation, College of Health & Human Development, 18111 Nordoff St., Northridge, Calif., 91330-8230 or the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center, c/o Orange County Boy Scouts, 1211 East Dyer Road, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705.
(Obit compliments of The Shelby Report of the West)
