Donald Jay Fink, Jr.

Jay was born January 27, 1964 in Harrisonburg, a son of the late Shirley Mae O’Neill Fink and Donald Jay Fink, Sr. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Allen Fink.

In 1982, he graduated from Harrisonburg High School, where he played football and made First Team All-State, and then attended Blue Ridge Community College.

He worked for many years (too many, he would say) at Lakeside Book Company, formerly RR Donnelley, in Harrisonburg. His favorite job was as a vending machine mechanic with the 7-Up Bottling Company in Elkton.

Jay was a good, decent, and generous man, as well as a friend to all. He was the type of person who wanted everyone to do well and always tried to make others feel good about themselves. He was dependable and watched out for all of his family and friends, and even strangers. He was humble and grateful, with a self-deprecating sense of humor.

Jay loved his family and friends, and as anyone who knew him knows, he LOVED football (and baseball, but he lived and breathed football). He played football for most of his early life, beginning with churchyard football (the open field in front of Trinity Presbyterian Church in the 1970s), then Pee Wee football, then junior varsity and varsity at HHS. He loved attending games in person, but also watched them live on television and even watched rebroadcasts of big games from the past. His favorite team was the Philadelphia Eagles (Fly, Eagles, fly!) and he was thrilled when they won the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, because he always had faith that they would. He also loved the New York Yankees, and enjoyed watching them play on tv with his mom.

He will be loved and missed by all who knew him, but especially by his survivors: sister Elizabeth Fink Nesselrodt, her husband Forrest Nesselrodt, and their son Tyler Nesselrodt. He is also survived by Karrie Baker, whom he thought of as a daughter, her husband Thomas Baker, and their children, whom Jay thought of as his grandchildren: Brianna, Kierra, Audriella, Penelope, and Thomas Jr., all of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

While there will be no services at this time, a casual Celebration of Life event tentatively is being planned for the spring.

To honor Jay’s memory, please take the time to mentor a child by encouraging them to stay in school, talking with them and genuinely listening to them, letting them just be children, and reminding them that they’ll miss all the fun if they grow up too fast. Please also take the time to hug your loved ones, because you never know when you’ll see them for the last time.

Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyharrisonburg.com.