Byron P. Fink Jr.

Byron Perry Fink, Jr., Jan. 13, 1918- April 20, 2011. Byron Perry Fink, Jrs. family and friends are celebrating his life todayand will for a long time. Sharing stories, laughing aloud, and thanking God for his presence in their lives. From the oldsters who called him By; to the youngsters who called him Great Papa; for everyone, he was larger than life. Husband of 63 years to the former Eleanor Minckler Fink; father to three children and their spouses; grandfather to seven and assorted husbands and wives; great grandfather to eight under nineand each one thinks they were his favorite! Quick to smile, he was a man who loved life and lived to love. His concern for other people was real. He stood for love of family. Following your dream. Hard work. Personal integrity. Faith and religious conviction. A natural wit and story teller. The best story he ever told is one he started at age 73 and took him 20 years and 600 pages to write, chronicling the familys origins back fifteen generations, across continentsagainst a colorful backdrop of socio/economic history, short stories, and generations of photos. Jumping in two feet first was the only way he knew to do it. An entrepreneur before there even was such a word; he was a builder of his insurance business and active in every town he lived in, from Yonkers, NY to Braintree, MA to Vero Beach, FL. He was a passionate writer of letters to friends and editors; a man who got involved wherever he saw a need. A fund raiser for the United Way; a successful proponent for better roads and traffic lights; a public library trustee; leader of a multi- million dollar capital fund drive; a visionary who influenced his church to create a memorial garden. Never over the hill, he took up downhill skiing at the age of 50. Byron Perry Fink, Jr., was here for 93 years and 3 months. He lived his life to the fullest. And when it was done, somewhat breathless and raising his pumping fist in the air, he panted, Thank you, Lord! That was a heck of a run! Forever, his family cheers him on. A memorial celebration for friends will be conducted on April 30, 2011 at 1 pm in the Carter Family Memorial Chapel at Indian River Estates, located at 7740 Indian Oaks Drive, Vero Beach, FL. In July the entire family will gather in Maine, on the lake he loved, to celebrate his life. Private burial will be in the Memorial Garden at the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. Arrangements are under the direction Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach, FL. Condolences may be sent to www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.