Irving Vernard Flint

Obituary

Irving was born to Nannie B. Flint in Forrest City, Arkansas on November 22, 1958. He relocated to Rochester, New York at the age of six. Irving went to school in the Rochester City School District. He attended James Madison High School where he participated on the football and wrestling teams.

He then moved to Houston, Texas in the late 1970’s where he lived for eight years. While in Texas, Irving worked Security for Klines Jewelry Store and several NFL Houston Oilers players. He truly became a Texan while he was there and for that time he was known as “Big Tex”.

In the mid 1980’s Irving moved back to Rochester, NY and worked at Bausch and Lomb. The highlight of his life was being a father to Mahalea and Trai as well as being an uncle to his nieces and nephews.

Irving also really enjoyed music, and he knew how to enjoy life. He retired from Bausch and Lomb at the age of 60 after working over 40 years. Irving was predeceased by his mother, Nannie B. Flint, and his sisters, Lela Joe Price and Inez Turner. He is survived by his sisters, Robin Crawford and Alicia Turner, his brother, Gregory Flint, his partner, Maritza Yolanda Cabrera, his children Mahalea and Trai and a host of nieces and nephews.

Remembering “Flint”

Irving Vernard Flint, known to most simply as “Flint,” transitioned on January 26, 2025, at the age of 66 in Rochester, New York. Born on November 22, 1958, in Forest City, Arkansas, he was raised in Rochester, New York, spent nearly a decade in Houston, Texas, and ultimately returned to Rochester, where he retired and lived out his final years. But to say he just lived in these places wouldn’t do him justice as Flint made every city his own filling every space he entered with laughter, stories, and a spirit too big to be contained.

He was the son of Nannie Beatrice Flint-Smith and Franklin Perry, was a beloved brother to Robin Crawford, Gregory Flint, Alicia Turner, and the late Lela Mack-Price, and a cherished uncle to a beloved group of nieces. Most of all, he was a devoted life partner to Maritza Yolanda Cabrera and the proud father of Mahalea Isis (25) and Trai Shamar (22) Cabrera-Flint. Though not his biological children, they knew no father but him, and he embraced that role with unwavering love, pride, and devotion.

Flint was there from the very beginning, the moment Maritza found out she was pregnant, through every ultrasound, and by her side in the delivery room. From the day Mahalea and Trai were born, Flint carried them in his arms and on his shoulders until they were too big to lift, though in his eyes, his kids would always be his kids. He was there for every milestone, the first day of school, every school function, and all the activities in between. Weekends and summer vacations were filled with swimming trips, adventures to Niagara Falls, Letchworth, and Stony Brook State Parks, amusement parks, nature centers, roller skating, museums, festivals galore, and all of his favorite restaurants.

He made the everyday moments just as special. Whether it was a spontaneous trip to Duff’s for chicken wings or a beach day at Durand Eastman that ended in the van being stolen-his whole paycheck hidden so well inside that even the thieves couldn’t find it-life with him was always an adventure. Birthday and block parties felt like they lasted forever, and Fourth of July meant fireworks, not just any fireworks, but the best the neighborhood had to offer. His barbecues were legendary-perfectly fried chicken and ribs so tender they fell off the bone. Sunday and holiday dinners will never be the same without him at the head of the table.

He wasn’t just a father in name, he was a father in every way that mattered. The man who held on to every baby tooth his kids ever lost, who made sure every moment of childhood was filled with love, excitement, and unforgettable memories.

Flint was larger than life in every way. His voice boomed, his presence was magnetic, and his stories were endless, some hilarious, some wild, some about love and friendship, others about fights or chance encounters with celebrities. He had a way of always being in the right place at the right time, whether it was meeting a young Jamie Foxx in a small comedy club before his rise to fame or rubbing elbows with Houston Oilers players and other high rollers during his years in Texas. He traveled far and wide across the U.S., took trips to Canada and Mexico, and never missed an opportunity to celebrate life-especially at Mardi Gras, which he attended more times than anyone could count. In 1986, he even had the privilege of attending Super Bowl XX, where he enjoyed special access for a meet-and-greet with the teams, just one of countless unforgettable moments he reminisced about often.

Although he left high school early to support his family, Flint’s intellect and brilliance were undeniable. He was a living encyclopedia, always surprising everyone around him with the most random facts and history. He was the best person to have around while watching Jeopardy! and the worst person to compete against during trivia games. When it came to music, no expert could match him-he could name the song, the artist, the release date, and the backstory within seconds. He spoke about music the way others speak about religion. He worshipped it. He also deeply loved art, especially the work of painter and Black-American cultural icon Ernie Barnes, whose pieces he collected throughout the years. He was endlessly curious, and passionate about learning not just for knowledge’s sake but to understand the world and the people in it. His heart was as big as our universe and had an endless supply of empathy.

Ever rebellious, Flint’s defiant spirit extended far beyond his natural curiosity. He was unafraid to challenge authority and never hesitated to stand up for what was right. His passion for sharing his views was so contagious that if you were within earshot, you’d be treated to his very own unscheduled, one-man open mic show. He had a special place in his heart for misfits and anyone society deemed disposable or inferior, always offering support without judgment or ego-only a desire to lift others up.

Flint was a dynamic man of many facets-both a self-proclaimed goth and cowboy, a lover of both the spooky and the wild west. He found beauty in the macabre but also just in the simplicity of feeding the birds and squirrels outside his home. He adored everything about Texas-the heat, the culture, the dancing, the food-and carried that Lone Star spirit with him always, even after returning to Rochester. He had a deep love for animals, from his first dog Snowball in the ’90s to the many family pets that followed. But one of his greatest joys was caring for others, whether it was taking his nieces out on fun day trips, looking out for neighborhood kids who needed extra guidance, or simply offering strangers a snack and a joke to brighten their day.

He was always in the know. Flint could tell you what was happening in the city before the news did. He built friendships across all walks of life-from everyday working-class folks to mayors and council members. He was the kind of man who, if he heard sirens passing by, would pick up his scanner just to listen in. And if the mood struck, he might even follow the cops in his car-less out of concern and more out of sheer curiosity and amusement.

Flint’s work ethic was unparalleled. During his time at James Madison High School in Rochester, New York, he majored in graphic arts and photography and distinguished himself athletically, competing on the varsity wrestling team and in All-State tournaments, as well as serving as a lineman on the varsity football team (wearing #79, a number his son would later, by pure coincidence, receive during his own time playing varsity football). He began working at 14 years old in a corner store and built a career that spanned decades and industries. He retired in 2022 after more than 15 years at International Paper (formerly Weyerhaeuser), where he was a machine operator known for his precision, leadership, and advocacy for workers’ rights, eventually earning a role as a union representative. Earlier in his career, he held significant positions at Applied Coatings, Inc. and Bausch & Lomb, as well as security roles at Kliens Jewelers and the Caligula XXI Club-experiences that allowed him to thrive professionally and gain access to some elite circles. A natural provider, he walked his sister Robin down the aisle, proudly giving her away and even purchased a home for his mother-just a few of the countless ways he expressed his love through action.

But above all else, Flint embodied love. He was warmth, laughter, wisdom, and a little bit of trouble all rolled into one. He lived on his own terms, uniquely and shamelessly. His legacy isn’t just in the stories he told but in the love he gave out, the people he lifted up, and the unforgettable way he made the world come alive.

The family asks that in Flint’s memory, you turn Prince on full blast, challenge authority, and live a little more authentically-just as he did.