Brian Leigh Finlay

Finlay, Brian Leigh 47, died peacefully Easter Sunday at home surrounded by his family. He was lovingly married to Kristine (nee Ebershoff) and cherished his beloved children, Jack and Sarah. Brian and Kristine would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in June. Brian is the second child of Howard and Doris (nee Zoellner) Finlay, the younger brother of Melissa Messina, nephew of Edgar Finlay, and cousin of Jill Peck. He grew up in Town and Country and attended Montessori School at Visitation, Rossman School, and graduated from Country Day in 1984. When he was five years old his parents introduced him to swimming at their Country Surf Swim Club and he spent much of the rest of his life involved in the swimming world. At Country Day Brian swam on the team and was a member of the State Championship water polo team. At Duke University he was the captain of the swim team and a record-holder. He became a huge Blue Devils basketball fan, following them passionately after college. Brian met Kristine at Duke in 1986 and he graduated with a psychology degree in 1988. He graduated from Northwestern Dental School, completing his residency in orthodontics at St. Louis University. Brian started his own private orthodontic practice in 1995 with offices in Wildwood and Des Peres. He introduced both his children to swimming at a young age and spent much of his free time attending their meets and developing their swim clubs. He loved being outdoors, gardening, cross country skiing, scuba diving, and especially traveling with his family. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the Veiled Prophet Organization. The Finlays would like to thank everyone who has loved and supported Brian and the family throughout his life and especially during the past 15 months. In addition to his immediate family he is survived by Melissa's husband, Randy Messina, Kristine's parents, Dave and Becky Ebershoff, and Kristine's siblings, Katie (Rich) Freiburger, Kim (Antonio) D'Amico, and David Ebershoff, plus many nieces and nephews. Services: Burial will be private on Friday, April 5. All are invited to a memorial celebration of his life on Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m. at St. Anselm, 530 South Mason Road in Creve Coeur. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Brian L. Finlay Financial Aid Fund at Mary Institute Country Day School (MICDS), Brian's alma mater. Checks should should be made out to MICDS and sent to the MICDS Development Office, 101 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63124 and directed to the Brian L. Finlay Financial Aid Fund. Arrangements by BOPP Chapel. www.boppchapel.com