William J. Finan

Goshen, NY

William J. Finan, 86, of Goshen, died Saturday, November 21, 2009 at Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, Middletown, NY.

Bill was born February 24, 1923 in Goshen, the son of William J. Finan and Helene Brown Finan. He was the widower of the late Ione "Tomi" Elizabeth (Aiken) Finan.

William J. Finan, known to most as "Bill", is a Goshenite. Not only was he born in Goshen, so was his father. His grandfather was the founder of T.H. Finan & Sons. It was a coal, ice, and horse feed business. He attended Goshen schools and graduated from Goshen High School. He attended Manhattan College and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and attended N.Y.U. Executive Management Program. He interrupted his engineering studies during World War II and became a B-24 navigator.

He met his beautiful wife Ione, while at Valley Forge army hospital. He retired from the Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant. Soon after they were married, they adopted their four children: Sheila Ann Finan of Peekskill, William J. Finan, Jr. and wife, Denise of Irrondaquiont, Donna Helene Finan of Syracuse, and Joseph and wife, Donna Graham Finan of Goshen; and his grandson, William J. Finan III.

Bill spent most of his business life with Foster Wheeler (thirty-seven years). Foster Wheeler is an international engineering, manufacturing and construction firm. Bill has been active in local government. He served as a Village Trustee for four terms during which he was Deputy Mayor, and Sewage & Water Commissioner. He served 18 years on the planning board, during which he was chairman for ten years.

On the county level, Bill was a former Vice President of the Orange County Citizen's Foundation and a former Chairman of its Waste & Water Committee. He is past President of the Orange County Golf Club, member of Goshen Rotary, Goshen Chamber of Commerce and a lifetime parishioner of St. John's Church.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 24, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Donovan Funeral Home, Inc., 82 S. Church St., Goshen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, November 25, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church, Murray Ave., Goshen. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Goshen.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to N.Y. Foundling, 590 Avenue of the Americas, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10011.

Arrangements entrusted to Donovan Funeral Home; 845-294-6422. For information, directions or to light a candle in memory of Bill, please visit www.donovanfunerals.com.