SARATOGA SPRINGS — Zoe Elizabeth Gass Flanagan, formerly of 5 Franklin Square (for almost 60 years!), Saratoga Springs, died peacefully of natural causes on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at the Home of the Good Shepherd in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Zoe was born on April 16, 1916 and was 104 years young at the time of her death. She was extremely proud of the fact that she was “a native Saratogian,” and that she never lived more than 2 blocks from Broadway in her beloved City of Saratoga Springs.
Zoe was the daughter of the late Robert and Elizabeth Borey Gass, and grew up on the westside of Saratoga Springs, residing at 72 Washington Street with her parents and her brother, the late Robert Gass. Zoe always said that everyone on the westside “walked by her house” on the way to school each day – at a time in Saratoga’s history when everyone knew everyone, and friends were family. She attended her beloved No. 2 Elementary School on Van Dam Street, and graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1933, when the school was located on Lake Avenue. She was Vice-President of her Senior Class, and was most often referred to, throughout all her years, as “the most beautiful girl in Saratoga” – and she was just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside, right up until the time of her passing.
She was the former owner and manager of the historic Rip Van Dam Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant located at 353 Broadway, The Saratoga Inn, located at 423 Broadway, as well as the Clinton Hotel at 5 Franklin Square, Saratoga Springs, which later became her home. Zoe also operated her own gift shop in the Drink Hall Building (now the Visitor’s Center) on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
Zoe was a life-long communicant of the Church of St. Peter, was the former Secretary of the Saratoga Springs Kiwanis Club (taking over for her brother, Robert Gass, upon his death), and a former member of the Saratoga Hospital Guild. She was recently recognized in November 2019 by the City of Saratoga Springs at the re-dedication of the Katrina Trask Gateway in Congress Park – as the steps were originally erected in 1922, when Zoe, a native Saratogian, was just 6 years old. She had an incredible fashion sense, was always dressed impeccably throughout her entire life, and even had a small part in the movie “Saratoga,” starring Clark Gable and Jean Harlow, which aired in 1937!
Zoe loved people and people-watching. She loved sitting on her porch at 5 Franklin Square, taking in all of the activity that was going on around her, and visiting with friends and acquaintances that happened by. She and her daughter Carole Jean hosted numerous “Porch Parties” each year during the Racing Season, with Zoe winning First Place and a Trophy for the “Best Porch” during the first year of the City’s competition – for which she was immensely proud!
Zoe enjoyed traveling, especially to Florida – in her early years with her in-laws to their Hotel, the Keystone, in West Palm Beach, and in her later years to West Palm Beach with her friends and dearest cousin, Alfaretta Carroll. She also loved traveling to visit her son Billy and his wife Diane in Virginia, traveling with her daughter Zoe Ann and her husband Scotty to various destinations in Europe, with her granddaughter Beth on her business trips, and spending quality time with her Granddaughter Zoanne and her husband Alan Burton, who always kept her entertained. Upon her retirement at the age of 82, she was able to enjoy more leisure time with her daughter Carole Jean, and their adventures were endless. She lived and enjoyed each day and minute of her life to the fullest, including their innumerable rides up and down Broadway checking out the sights – multiple times a day! She especially enjoyed spending time with her daughter Zoe Ann and her family at their Camp on Schroon Lake, her Saturdays during the Racing Season with Carole Jean and her husband Wayne, and her dear friend Maryrose Behan in the Club House Box at the Saratoga Race Track, their adventures at Siro’s after the Track, lunches at the Fasig Tipton Horse Sales, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the Parting Glass, the Victorian Street Walk, time spent at the St. Clement’s/Saratoga Horse Shows, countless lunches and dinners at restaurants up and down Broadway, her lunches with her Granddaughter Kristy Carey at Compton’s including with her dear friend Minnie Bolster, and especially her Friday night dinners with Carole Jean and Wayne, Maryrose and Dan, and Weezie at the Westside Stadium on Congress Street. The time spent with her girlfriends – “the Church Ladies,” including her dear friend Margaret Powers – after daily Mass every morning, at either Friendly’s or Dunkin Donuts, was legendary. The annual Birthday Parties held for her at her daughter Carole Jean and Wayne’s home were looked forward to months in advance by all who attended. In addition to all her local family and friends, her Grandchildren Michael, Christopher, Bill III, and Taimi, and all their spouses and children, would come from far and wide to celebrate their Grandmother’s vibrant life. There was no adventure that was too near or too far for Zoe to undertake – and she did so with so much enthusiasm and gusto, looking forward to each and every one of them, right up until the time of her passing.
In addition to her parents and her in-laws (Thomas J. (“T.J.”) and Helen Frost Flanagan), Zoe was predeceased by her husband, William J. Flanagan, her beloved son Thomas J. (T.J.) Flanagan, her brother Robert Gass, and several cousins including Alfaretta Carroll and Elizabeth (Betty) West. She is survived by her son Col. William J. Flanagan Jr. USA (Ret.) and his wife Diane (Colonial Heights, VA), and her daughters Zoe Ann Coleman (husband R. Scott) of Greenfield Center, and Carole Jean Flanagan-Potter (husband Wayne) of Galway, NY. Zoe loved spending time with all her Grandchildren and celebrating their lives and accomplishments along life’s way. Her Grandchildren include Col. Michael P. Flanagan USA (Ret.) (Melia), Richmond, VA, Christopher Flanagan (Lucila), Edmond, Oklahoma, William J. Flanagan, III, San Francisco, CA, Taimi Schweighardt, Alexandria, VA, Zoanne Burton (Alan), Greenfield Center, Beth Ann Post and Kristy Carey (John), both of Saratoga Springs. She is also survived by 12 Great-Grandchildren, and 7 Great-Great-Grandchildren.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, and as a concern for everyone’s health, and out of respect and at the request of the Family, services will be private, as well as a private Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated by the Family at The Church of St. Peter in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. The Mass will be live-streamed under the arrangements of Burke Funeral Home, for all those wishing to participate virtually. A link to the live stream will be available the morning of the 27th at burkefuneralhome.com. Burial will be private for the Family at St. Peter’s Cemetery. A celebration of Zoe’s life will be held at a later date, when it is safe for everyone to gather and reflect on the love and memories we all share.
The Family would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the Caregivers and Staff of the Home of the Good Shepherd for all their love, care, compassion, and the support provided to our mother over the past 6 years.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Zoe’s memory may be made to the Home of the Good Shepherd – 400 Church Street, or to Community Hospice – 179 Lawrence Street, both of Saratoga Springs, NY.
A life well lived and much loved.
Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com
