Peter Paul Finney Sr.

1927 - 2016

Peter Paul Finney Sr. (born Oct. 17, 1927, and died Aug. 13, 2016) was preceded in death in 2013 by his "best friend," Doris (Deedy) Young Finney, after 61 blessed years of marriage. Mr. Finney is survived by six children: Barbara F. Weilbaecher (Peter), Jane F. Haas (Ted), Peter P. Finney Jr. (Carolyn), Dr. Timothy P. Finney (Gina), Elizabeth F. Donze (Frank) and Michael D. Finney (Janet). He also is survived by 20 grandchildren, Peter Weilbaecher Jr., Emily W. Price, Amanda W. Partin, Andrew Weilbaecher, Timothy Haas, John Haas, Rev. Peter Finney III, Rebecca F. Fernandes, Dr. Jonathan Finney, Sarah Finney, Ryan Finney, Matthew Finney, Connor Finney, Erik Finney, Caroline Donze, Victoria Donze, Evan Morgan, Hunter Morgan, Sydney Morgan and Jackson Finney; and five great-grandchildren, Quinn Price, Liam Price, Miles Partin, Owen Partin and Stella Partin. Mr. Finney was the son of the late John Gabriel Finney Sr. and Clara Giacomino Finney of New Orleans and was predeceased by his brothers Joseph Patrick Finney and John Gabriel Finney Jr. He is survived by his sister Patricia Finney Daniels and his brother Thomas Michael Finney (Mary Judice), both of New Orleans, and three sisters-in-law, Sister of Mercy Mary Claver Young, of Oklahoma City, Rose Young of Baton Rouge and Joyce Young of Kenner. Mr. Finney grew up in the French Quarter in the shadow of St. Louis Cathedral, where he was an altar server. He attended St. Louis Cathedral School and graduated from Jesuit High School in 1945, where he was editor of The Blue Jay. Two months later, as a freshman at Loyola University, he embarked on his decorated sportswriting career at the The States (later the New Orleans States-Item, from 1945-80) and The Times-Picayune (1980-2013). Mr. Finney entertained, informed and inspired readers with his elegantly poetic take on sports. Scattered among his nearly 15,000 columns and 12 million words are gems that have delighted both hardcore sports fans who wanted inside information and casual sports fans who simply liked a good story, well told. In his 68 years of master storytelling he received the Louisiana Sportswriter of the Year Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association 17 times. In 2015, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association renamed the columnist-of-the-year award in his honor. Mr. Finney earned lifetime achievement awards from the Pro Football Hall of Fame (the Dick McCann Memorial Award in 2010 from the Pro Football Writers of America for his coverage of the National Football League) and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Hall of Fame (2012). Also in 2012, he was honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America with the A.J. Liebling Award for Outstanding Boxing Writing. Mr. Finney was the Jesuit High School Alumnus of the Year in 1974. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and received the Joe Gemelli Fleur de Lis Award from the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2013. He was named to the Loyola University New Orleans School of Mass Communication Den of Distinction in 2013. At that awards ceremony, he deflected praise, saying, "All I do is write. I've never felt like I've had to work a day in my life." Mr. Finney, who also earned a master's degree in journalism from Louisiana State University, is the author of "The Fighting Tigers, 1893-1993: One Hundred Years of LSU Football" (the seminal history of LSU football); "Pistol Pete: The Story of College Basketball's Greatest Star" ("Pistol Pete" Maravich); and "The Best of Peter Finney: Legendary New Orleans Sportswriter" (a February 2016 compilation by LSU Press of 75 of his favorite columns). In recognition of his contributions to LSU sports journalism, he was inducted into the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication Hall of Fame in 2006. Mr. Finney served with the 122nd Light Bombardment Squadron of the Louisiana Air National Guard. The Finney family expresses its sincere gratitude to Dr. John Finney III, the nephew of Mr. Finney, for his care. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at 11 a.m. at St. Rita Catholic Church, 2729 Lowerline St., New Orleans. Mr. Finney's grandson, Father Peter Finney III, will be the principal celebrant. The family will receive friends beginning at 9 a.m. at St. Rita Church. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1000 Howard Ave., Suite 200, New Orleans, LA 70113. Condolences may be left at www.lakelawnmetairie.com.