Timothy Arnold Finan

Timothy Arnold Finan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, revered educator, and pioneering force in the realm of disc sports, died at the age of 65, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born on October 17th, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois, to Thomas Russell Finan, an officer in the Air Force, and Carmalita Dot’e Fulton, Timothy's life was a journey marked by adventure, passion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of others.

Timothy's childhood was shaped by his family's moves across the United States and Germany, imbuing him with a sense of adventure and adaptability. His family ultimately settled in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where Timothy graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in 1977. His early years were spent exploring the great outdoors with his seven brothers and sisters, as a member of the Choctawhatchee Style Marchers, where he played sousaphone, and in sports, including an undefeated amateur career in kickboxing.

After high school, Timothy’s adventurous spirit took him to the San Francisco Bay Area and then to Houston, Austin, and Tallahassee, before he settled in Palm Beach County in the 1980s. It was here that Timothy met Lesa Anne McKeen, marking the beginning of a loving marriage and partnership that would endure for the rest of his life. Timothy’s life was further blessed with the adoption of Lesa's son, Matthew, in 1990, weaving the threads of a loving and unified family.

Timothy graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, a Minor in Secondary Education, and a Specialization in Middle School Science. Timothy was a member of Kappa Delta Epsilon and served as the school’s Intramural Supervisor in 1992 and 1993. In 1994, he was named in the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for his contributions and vision as a sports organizer.

Timothy’s contributions to disc sports were pioneering. In the 1990s, Timothy served as Tournament Director for several high-profile Ultimate tournaments, including the Ultimate Players Association National Championships in 1990 and 1991, the UPA Regional Championship in 1991, the UPA State Championships in 1988, 1989, and 1990, the Jose Cuervo Pro Ultimate Tournament in 1991, 1992, and 1993, and the Jose Cuervo Ultimate Beach Bowl from 1988 to 1992. His success helped grow Ultimate during a crucial time in the sport’s development. In 1988, Timothy wrote the rules for Beach Ultimate, a sport which is now played by thousands of athletes worldwide with teams in more than 50 countries, and he would later travel the world as an ambassador of the sport. His contributions ultimately lead to his nomination to the Ultimate Players Association Hall of Fame in 2005 and 2006.

Timothy was most proud however of his long and distinguished career as an educator in Palm Beach County. Tim began as an assistant physical education instructor at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, from 1990 to 1992, and later, as a student teacher at Duncan Middle School in 1994. He dedicated 30 years to Crestwood Middle School in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, as the Physical Education teacher and Athletic Director, where he coached numerous sports, including volleyball. Timothy is remembered as a celebrated educator with an unrivaled passion for teaching. He taught more than 10,000 students, many of whom went on to win athletic scholarships at top colleges and universities.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Timothy was deeply involved in the Palm Beach County sports community. Timothy acted as the director of the North Palm Beach Youth Athletic Association Basketball League in 1995 and coached teams for youth Hockey, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, and Volleyball through the Palm Beach Gardens Recreation Department, at St. Mark’s Episcopal School, the local YMCA, and Crestwood Middle School. Timothy also organized the annual Phantom 4 Mile Race in Dryer Park, Florida in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which raised more than $100k for cancer research. His dearest contribution to Palm Beach County was with the PGA National Park Disc Golf Course, where he personally designed and opened two disc golf courses that are now enjoyed by players of all skill levels. Although the courses have been visited by thousands of disc golfers, including several professionals, Timothy was most proud of the Tiki League Club that he founded, the members of which would become his best friends.

His love for travel, dedication to the FSU Seminoles, and talents as a chef and brewer were well known, though despite his personal and professional accomplishments he is best remembered by his family and friends simply as a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, sibling, and friend.

Predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Carmalita, and siblings Thomas, Taryn, and Tamara, Timothy's legacy of creativity, empathy, and dedication lives on through his wife Lesa, son Matthew, daughter-in-law Megumi, grandson Ren, sisters in law Elisabeth and Mary, siblings Teresa, Margaret, Patrick, and Dawn, and a vast community of family, friends, students, and colleagues.

A celebration of Timothy's remarkable life will take place at St. Mark’s Church, 3395 Burns Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, on March 16th, 2024, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations to a favorite charity in Timothy's memory are encouraged, honoring his lifelong commitment to generosity and enduring impact.