Flynn returns home from hospital

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

Former Boston mayor Ray Flynn kissed his 10-month-old grandson, Flynn Patrick Foley, as he left St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton.

By David Abel, Globe Staff

Former Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn was released from the hospital today, a week after passing out during a talk he gave at a bar in Quincy.

“He’s doing good,” said Catherine Flynn, his wife. “We’re glad to have him home, and we hope he stays on the mend.”

Flynn left St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton at about 10 a.m. The former mayor had some tea and is resting at his home in South Boston, his wife said.

Catherine Flynn said she wasn’t sure why the 69-year-old former mayor and ambassador to the Vatican fainted last week when he spoke at the Bad Abbots pub as part of the "Theology on Tap" series, which features speakers discussing religion in a bar setting. Flynn was about 35 minutes into his speech when he fainted.

His wife said his fainting might be related to ear cancer that Flynn has been fighting for more than a decade. She said the cancer was not melanoma, as has been previously reported.

Flynn has also been under recent stress. He is grieving the loss of his brother, Dennis, who died last month of a heart attack at age 61.

Flynn, a South Boston Democrat, was elected to the City Council in 1978 and served for six years before becoming mayor in 1984.

President Clinton appointed him ambassador to the Vatican in 1993, a post he held until 1997.

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