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02-2-2009 - My Dad

My mood while writing this blog: Sad

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http://wydaily.com/read_article.php?article=1752

His Obituary:

John Michael Finn, 63, of Williamsburg passed away Saturday January 31, 2009 from a sudden heart attack. Know as 'Mike' to his friends and family he was born in Brooklyn, NY. He was raised in a navy family and never lost the urge to just pick up and live somewhere new. Drafted after the Tet offensive of 1968 he served in the Army in Vietnam. Upon returning to the US he resumed graduate school and received a PhD in Physics from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. As a research scientist he worked at many prominent research laboratories including the French Atomic Energy Commission's Center of Nuclear Studies at Saclay, the Laboratory for Nuclear Science of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Continuous Electronic Beam Accelerator Facility, later renamed "Jefferson Lab" which brought him to this area. He has been a Professor of Physics at the College of William and Mary for the past 25 years. In 2008 he wrote a text book entitled "Classical Mechanics" in which he drew on his lifetime of teaching and love of physics. He was at work on a companion volume at the time of his death. Late in his life he branched out into poetry and published several volumes of poetry as well as a memoir of his time in Vietnam, "Ghost Tracks". He joked that he was going to retire and devote his life to writing poetry and then force his family to sit through readings. Mike was very involved in local politics and devoted the same level of energy and enthusiasm that he gave to any part of his life. At the time of his death he was the Chairman of the York/Poquoson Democratic Committee. Any hobby he took up as an interest quickly became a new career to explore in his 'spare' time. He never had less than three things to do at once. His family was the most important thing in the world to him. He loved his children and wife dearly and would brag to anyone willing to listen about them. He is survived by the love of his life Kathryn Finn, his five grown children, two doted upon granddaughters, his mother, sister and brother and hundreds of grieving friends. He made an impression wherever he went and nobody who met him was untouched by his enthusiasm and love of life.
There will be a viewing at Bucktrout of Williamsburg on Sunday, February 8th, 2009 from 6 to 8pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at 3pm on Monday, February 9th,2009 at St. Olaf's Roman Catholic Church, in Norge, VA. Memorial Donations to an education fund for his younger children and grandchildren can be sent to 133 Little John Rd Williamsburg, VA 22152.

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5 Comments on My Dad


queen-ri - Tuesday, 3 Feb
that was really good - a wonderful tribute to him. I was born in brooklyn too so we were meant to be too! I am glad to see that he dis seem to have lived a fullfilling life and was loved by his family

colombianmama - Tuesday, 3 Feb
That was so beautiful, like TBT said, it made me feel like if i known him from before. He was such an interesting, loving person. I'm here in the distance for you.

nmck - Tuesday, 3 Feb
What a beautiful obituary. He sounds like a wonderful person. Your family is in my prayers.

thebigtomato - Tuesday, 3 Feb
What a wonderful obituary! I feel like I know him just from reading it! It truly captured his spirit and illustrated what a driven, intelligent, productive, and caring person he was.

My name is spelled the same way your mom's is - Kathryn. :) See, we were meant to be friends!

I'm always here for you. Just let me know if you need anything.

leah20 - Tuesday, 3 Feb
aw i am so sorry for ur loss x