Richard Brendan Finnegan

Cherished husband and father Richard B. Finnegan passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on the morning of Saturday, May 20, at Massachusetts General Hospital. His beloved wife Joanne “Scotti” Finnegan at his bedside. Richard was born in Boston Massachusetts to Neal and Mary Finnegan. After attending B.C. High, Richard attended Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. After earning his B.A., he earned Master degrees from Boston College and Harvard University and a PhD at Florida State University. He returned to Stonehill as a young professor where he spent a long and distinguished career as one of the college’s most prolific and respected Professors. He served as Chair of the Political Science and International Studies departments and as Director of Irish Studies program. He helped compile the largest collection of Irish government documents in the United States. Stonehill awarded him the honors of distinguished alumnus as well as distinguished scholar. He was a multiple Fulbright academic grant recipient, a visiting professor at University College Galway, Ireland and Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium, Fulbright Senior Scholar at Mazarick University, the Czech Republic, and taught Military and Diplomatic personnel in Berlin and Heidelberg, Germany. On his retirement, Stonehill College endowed an International Studies Chair in his honor. Living in Chatham MA since 2012, Richard served on the Chatham Historic District Committee, facilitated family support groups for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and taught several courses at the Snow Library in Orleans MA. Richard is survived by his wife Scotti, his three sons Rich, Scott, and Jesse, daughter-in law Sheila and grandchildren, Shannon, Liam, Riley and Kate; brother, Neal; nieces and nephews, Neal and Wayne Finnegan, Terry Lynch and Lynn Judge. A Gathering of family and friends will be held to share food, drink and stories of the quintessential life well lived at the Martin Institute at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts on June 4, 2023 from noon-3. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Richard B. Finnegan Distinguished Chair of Political Science and International Relations. Office of Advancement Stonehill College 320 Washington street. Easton, MA 02377

For online condolences please visit: www.nickersonfhchatham.com