‘Amazing person’ with a passion for prayer, mixed-martial arts
Jonathan Flickinger tackled passions such as faith, country, education and work with the determination of the mixed martial arts champions he so admired, but family came first.
“Everyone that knew him, knew that all he wanted was to have a family of his own one day. I am so happy that we were able to share that together,” said his wife, Jenna.
Mr. Flickinger, 34, of Bridgeville, father to Lydia, 3, and 8-week-old Isaiah, died Thursday morning after a car driven by a 20-year-old West Virginia man crossed into the oncoming lane on a Connoquenessing Township road and struck his vehicle, according to state police in Butler. Authorities said Mr. Flickinger died during transport from the scene.
“In the past few weeks, he told his dad, mom, and me, that his life felt complete and full and that he had everything he ever wanted. That alone gives us a little peace, knowing how happy he was,” said his wife, the former Jenna Schwartz. The couple was married in 2013 at Church of the Christ in Washington, Pa., where Mr. Flickinger grew up.
His father, Tom, is an elder at the church, which the family attends each Sunday “and prayer was part of our everyday lives,” Jenna Flickinger said. “Jonathan taught our daughter Lydia how to say the prayer every night before dinner. Lydia was so excited and proud to be in charge of this responsibility.”
In November, Mr. Flickinger began a new job as Chief Human Capital Officer at Quality Life Services, headquartered in Butler.
Mr. Flinkinger’s previous job had been at Swanson Industries, a mining company based in Morgantown, W.Va. In a 2016 profile in Workforce Magazine, under the heading “Game Changer,” Mr. Flickinger described himself as a “’mixed martial generalist,’ a title that seems to fit him perfectly,” the magazine said noting his education and work experiences at such a young age. The article described how he moved up the ladder at Swanson, gaining a promotion from human resources manager to HR director within his first year at the company.
“Jonathan was a very determined man, in all areas of his life,” his wife said. “That’s how he was able to win me over, by constant pursuit. He had a never-giveup attitude.”
She noted that he was always trying to challenge and better himself, and that their home has bookshelves full of “anything that he could read to learn more about his passions: God, human resources, law, business, mixed martial arts, sports and personal development.”
The 2001 graduate Trinity High School played baseball for the Hillers and was known for his yellow Mustang with the license plate“Flick13.” He earned his undergraduate degree in history and economics at Washington & Jefferson College, and earned a Juris Doctor of Law Degree from Duquesne Universityin 2011.
After graduating, Mr. Flickinger determined to become a part of the sport he loved, the mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship. In 2012, he landed a job with the UFC public relations firm Star PR Las Vegas LLC, working from Pittsburgh but traveling for events there.
Mr. Flickinger didn’t only win over his wife, he transformed her into a sports fan, including the UFC fights. One of their first dates was a Steelers game, and they soon added Pirates and Penguins games to the mix.
His “man cave” in their Bridgeville home was decorated in black and gold and UFC memorabilia, including a cherished picture taken with UFC president Dana White.
He eventually transformed his career goals and began his human resources career in 2013, at Centria Architectural Systems in Coraopolis. While there, he completed an Advanced Certificate in Strategic Human Resources Management from Cornell University.
His wife wants “the most amazing person I have ever met” to be celebrated for his positive outlook and all of his accomplishments, and to be remembered for this wit and sense of humor, too.
“I am so thankful that I got to share my life with him,” she said. “He was so proud of his little girl and our new baby. Isaiah’s middle name is Drew, named after Jonathan’s middle name. I know he will always be a part of our lives.”
Mr. Flickinger is survived by Jenna, their children, Lydia and Isaiah; his parents, Tom and Debra Flickinger; and by his brother Christopher and sister-in-law Annissa, all of Washington, Pa.
Visitation at Warchol Funeral Home, 3060 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, is Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. The funeral service there is Wednesday at 10 a.m., with a luncheon to follow. A GoFund me page has been started for Jenna Flickinger and her children: https://www.gofundme.