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VERNON ALTON FINCH

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San Diego State University Grossmont High School

VERNON FINCH Obituary

FINCH, VERNON ALTON Time to go. Vernon Alton Finch, 83, died February 16, 2013, surrounded by his family. Born April 3, 1929 in San Diego, he graduated from Hoover High, Class of 1947. Nursery schoolmates, then high school sweethearts, Vernon Finch and Pat Morton married in 1952 and shared 51 happy, adventure-filled years of travel and fun in the sun until her death in 2004. They built their dream home and raised three children. Vernon served five years as a pilot in the Air Force, after which he earned a Teaching Credential and a Master's degree in Industrial Arts at San Diego State College. Students will remember Mr. Finch at Horace Mann Jr. High, San Diego High, Mission Bay High and Grossmont High School, where he retired as Vice Principal in 1987. During these years he also officiated high school and college football and AAU track. Along the way he was a furniture maker, potter, silversmith, beekeeper and extensive Baja traveler. He put his Air Force flight training to work piloting his Piper Cherokee with his wife and co-pilot, Pat, all over the U.S., Caribbean and Mexico. Sports were a lifelong pursuit - basketball, track, over-the-line, racquetball, and slo-pitch softball. His last six years were made sweeter by his girlfriend Josephine Kerrigan. He is survived by daughter Marilyn (Jeff) Hinck, sons Thomas (Elizabeth) and Michael (Lorraine), brother James (Lynnette), and grandchildren Greg (Kristin), Danielle (Brian), Nathan, Nichole, Jenna, Alicia, Marissa and Marcus. A private Celebration of Life will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

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Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Mar. 3, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for VERNON FINCH

10 Entries

david sharp

April 2, 2013

He was a multi-talented man, many would say a renaissance man. But what I most admired about Mr. Finch is that he said what he meant and meant what he said. Sadly, that seems to be an infrequent trait these days. My life has been enriched by knowing Mr. Finch and his children.

Bill Clauder

March 14, 2013

Vern was a special person in my life. I could never have made it back from Baja when my dad died without his help. I still have the truck I bought from him and it always be special to me.

March 4, 2013

Absolutely one of the best Vice Principals I ever worked with. Tough, strong, fair, and unwavering in his principles. I always appreciated his great sense of humor, his intelligence, and his forethought. Every high school should be blessed with a man of his caliber in their administration. He and Bill Davis made Grossmont High School one of the best schools anywhere and they are together again, arm in arm, smiling down on us.

Kathleen Urquhart

March 4, 2013

Vern will forever remain in our hearts as a cherished friend and companion to my mom. He enriched her life during these last six years as they shared numerous adventures and ordinary daily conversations. His kindness and generosity were a blessing to Mom and our whole family. He will be missed and the impact he had on all of our lives will always be remembered.

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Ron Torretto

March 4, 2013

I remember Vern Finch as a very fine teacher who, along with Mr. Holland, made the industrial arts department at Horace Mann a great learning environment for life lessons as well as "hands on" skills. He encouraged me in my art, my baseball and to be myself as the new "new kid' in a very large school.
Today's boys need a Vern Finch in their school life!

Tony Camara

March 3, 2013

Mr. Finch,

Thank you for all the memories and our baseball conversations about the curve ball and playing defense. Also, thank you for hiring me at the age of 22 and giving me the opportunity as a teacher.

Tony Camara

Tom Cassie

March 3, 2013

I'm sorry to hear of the loss of Vern. I will always remember the many times I spent with him at Colina Del Sol, and at Crawford Gym. He was a very positive role model to me and my friends. He also taught at Horace Mann when I was in the ninth grade. It was fun to see him in another setting. He assigned lunch clean up to a lot of us.
My dad, who was his coach at Hoover, had a soft spot in his heart for Vern.
He will definitely be missed.

Kathleen Hamlett

March 3, 2013

I'm sorry for your loss :( I recognized Josephines name and wondered if she had a brother named Johnny Bianco who was killed in wwII. If so my dad would love to talk to you his name is Jerry Durkin his # is 619 820 4956

Bob Morin

March 3, 2013

I still remember that trip to Santa Catalina with you and Ken on his boat.

Bob Morin

Karl Andersen

March 3, 2013

In 1959 Mr. Finch was my metal-shop/wood-shop teacher at Horace Mann Jr. High. Can't say as I remember any teacher with more fondness than Mr. Finch. He took this very shy kid under his wing and made him feel proud and successful. A noble man in a noble profession.

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