John Finnigan

John was born and raised in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. In 1957, John met the love of his life, Eleanor Henrich, while working at Schrafft’s, a confectionery company and popular restaurant chain. They were married in St. Monica’s Church in New York City on September 13, 1958, and soon after, settled in Gilbertsville, New York, where they lived for more than 40 years. During this time, John was actively involved in the community, serving as a member of the Gilbertsville Free Library Board, the Gilbertsville Central School Board of Education and the Village Improvement Society.

John served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserves, and was honorably discharged in 1963. He was a member of the American Legion Post 1339 in Gilbertsville and served as Commander from 1986-1987.

He had a long and successful career in human resources while working at the Bendix Corporation, Amphenol and BFGoodrich.

He was a life-long avid reader, and in retirement, enjoyed managing the bookstore at the Venice Public Library in Florida. He was also a Literacy Volunteer of South Sarasota County. John had a knack for storytelling, often recounting his childhood adventures in Bay Ridge, summer family vacations at Upper Greenwood Lake in upstate New York, and his experiences managing Schrafft’s restaurants in the 1950s where he met many celebrities and dignitaries, including Ed Sullivan, Kate Smith and Elizabeth “Bess” Truman.

He enjoyed golf, stamp and coin collecting, and having his Saturday morning Spring Street barn sales filled with antiques and collectibles. He also enjoyed hosting his grandchildren during the summers in Gilbertsville.

John is survived by his three children: John (Jomary) Finnigan, Maitland, Florida; Monica Finnigan Buchholz, Scituate, Massachusetts; and Thomas Finnigan, Gilbertsville, New York. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren: Joseph (Hannah) Finnigan, Patrick (Nora) Finnigan, Sara Finnigan, Maximilian (Amanda) Buchholz, Benjamin (Monicka) Buchholz and Ana Buchholz, as well as four great-grandsons and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He is survived by his brother-in-law Tom Henrich, and lovingly remembered by Louise Buchholz Southern, Karl Buchholz, Theodore Buchholz, Paula Henrich and close friends on his Sunday call list.

John is predeceased in death by his wife, Eleanor Finnigan, and his parents, Thomas and Veronica (Nelis) Finnigan. He is also predeceased by his brother James Finnigan, his sister Elizabeth Callahan, his son-in-law Theodore O. Buchholz and his niece Amy Kathleen Klink Bland.

Family and friends are invited to a funeral mass on Saturday, May 30, at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church in Morris, New York, with burial to follow at Brookside Cemetery in Gilbertsville. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in John’s memory to the Gilbertsville Free Library (P.O. Box 332), the Gilbertsville Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Squad (P.O. Box 72) and the Gilbertsville American Legion (P.O. Box 308), Gilbertsville, New York, 13776.