Richard Finck Obituary (1923 – 2022) – Leeds, MA

Leeds, MA — Dick Finck passed away on January 7th, six weeks shy of his 99th birthday, at Linda Manor in Leeds, MA. He was born at his family’s home in Buckland, MA during a blizzard in 1923. The doctor had to travel by horse-drawn sleigh to bring him into the world! Dick was the son of the late Gustav A. and Elizabeth Patterson Finck. Their family moved from Buckland to Northampton in the early 1930s. He attended local schools and graduated from Northampton High School in 1941 having earned a reputation as a “powerful” fullback for the football team. Dick enlisted and was commissioned as a B-24 bomber pilot with the 15th Army Air Force in Italy during World War II. After the war he attended American International College in Springfield (where he was the captain of the rowing team that earned invitations to national races). Upon graduation Dick joined the family business, Finck and Son Insurance Agency in Florence, where he worked until he retired in 1990. He also served as a director of the Northampton Cooperative Bank and was the former president of Hill Institute in Florence.

In the early 1950’s, he and his friend Ted Addis, combined their brains and brawn and built two homes in their spare time; one for Ted, and one for Dick. Dick raised his family and lived for 59 years in the house he built.

Dick enjoyed “a life, well lived!” In addition to his carpentry skills, he had a variety of hobbies including fishing, oil painting, baking, photography, videography, collecting coins and stamps and building a huge HO train display. One of his most prized activities was traveling the world to fly fish and to attend summer and winter Olympic games, which he and his wife did for almost 30 years.

Dick was predeceased in 2018 by his wife of 70 years, Priscilla Parsons Finck, and by his sister, Nancy A. Finck, in 1996. He is survived by his three children; Douglas P. Finck and his wife Cherry of Durham, ME; Marjorie F. O’Leary and her husband John, of Melrose, MA; and Roger E. Finck and his wife JoAnne, of Deerfield, MA. “Gramp” was also loved by four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

There will be a private burial at a future date at the Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, MA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, 329 Conway Street #2, Greenfield, MA, 01301. They provided wonderful, compassionate care during the final weeks/months of Dick’s life.

Czelusniak Funeral Home, 173 North Street, Northampton, MA (413-584-3583) is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.czelusniakfuneralhome.com.