Francis Rose Finnerty

Maiden Name: Francisca Rose Ecker

Born in San Diego, California on September 17, 1914 and died on July 9, 2016. Daughter of the late Frank and Rose Ecker and sister to Larry Ecker.

She grew up in Logan Heights and after her father passed, the family moved to National City on Division street. Her mother married Claude Vosburgh who then adopted both her and her brother Larry. Her main interests growing up were dancing and theater. She graduated from Sweetwater Union High School in 1931 . She earned her degree from San Diego State University along with her teaching credential in 1936.

She married Ralph Finnerty in 1937 and a few years later, he returned home from the war and they had a son, James Ralph. They bought four acres of land and moved into a two-bedroom house on Division Street where they spent the next 25 years improving both the land and the home.

Frances was hired by the San Diego Unified School District where she taught for 39 years. She taught at Balboa, Paradise Hills, Freese and Oak Park Elementary Schools, among others. She was considered a master teacher and was one of the first supervising teachers to instruct new teachers in the districts’ Intern Program. She was a highly respected teacher and individual. She devoted her life to educating and helping generations of students.

Upon retirement, she fulfilled her dream of traveling to many exotic places around the world and visiting all the continents. When she discovered golf, it became her passion; and as an avid golfer, she continued to play into her 90’s. Upon her death, San Diego lost one its few surviving centurions. She is survived by her son Jim Finnerty.

She is to be cremated and buried at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita. Services are to be held at The Little Chapel of Roses on Thursday July 28 at 10:00am. A short graveside ceremony will follow the service.