Fitchburg

Carleton K. Finch, 100, of Fitchburg passed away August 20, 2023, at Leominster Hospital.

Carleton, known to many as Zeke, was born in Northfield, MA on April 10, 1923, the oldest child of Cortland and Sarah Finch. He was raised in Northfield and graduated from Mount Hermon in 1941 and from Bates College in the class of 1945. His actual graduation, though, was delayed by his service in the United States Navy during WWII after he went through Officer Training with the V-12 unit stationed at Bates.

He married his college sweetheart Arline Sinclair in 1944, and they raised their family in Fitchburg, MA. He owned and operated a tire business for 13 years and then became a math teacher and eventually the Coordinator of Administrative Computing in the Leominster School System, where he worked from 1964-1991. In the summers he was active in camping, serving as director of Camp Wellville in Ashburnham, MA and later for 12 years as director of Camps Andover and Waldron in Meredith, NH.

Always involved in community service, Carleton was active in scouting for 33 years, organizing Troop 41 in Fitchburg and serving as its first Scout Master. He was also deeply involved in his churches, Rollstone Congregational and Faith United Parish, and was one of the founding members of Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, where he volunteered from 1986 until his death. He has received recognition for his community service from the Northfield-Mount Hermon Schools, Bates College, North Central Massachusetts Habitat for Humanity, and the Myra Kraft Foundation.

An avid gardener and skilled furniture builder, Carleton filled the tables of his family with vegetables and their yards with flowers, and their homes are graced by tables, hutches, desks, bookcases, and cabinets, all fashioned by his loving hands.

Carleton was predeceased by his wife of 71 years, Arline Finch, his grandson Michael Finch, and his sister Arlene Reynolds.

He is survived by his children: William Finch (Margaret) of Rindge, NH; Joanne Tulonen of Springfield, NH; Deborah Finch of Westminster, MA; David Finch (Carolyn) of Humarock, MA; Patricia Kelly (Edward) of Rindge, NH; William Judge (Tom Scano) of Delray Beach, FL; Thomas Judge of Cohasset, MA; and the children of his heart, Ewa Friman of Sweden and Diane Normandin of Fitchburg, MA. He is survived also by eleven grandchildren: Gregory Tulonen (Kate), Timothy Finch, Emily Polk (Terence) Jillian Lane (Michael), Amy Novelli (Anthony), Andrew, Kathryn, and Thomas Kelly (Ashley), Frank Abadie (Melissa), Rachel Judge (Charlie Paine) and Tyler Judge (Kelsea); and nine great-grandchildren: Connor and Riley Tulonen. Isabel and Alexandrea Polk, Michael David Lane, Kiera Santos, Mila Paine, Harlow Abadie, and Thomas Judge.

Also surviving Carleton are his brother Edwin Finch, his sister Ellen Flewelling, and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations in Carleton's name to the Carleton Finch Land Fund of Habitat for Humanity NCM, 201 Great Road, Suite 301, Acton, MA. 01720.

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Published by Sentinel & Enterprise on Aug. 23, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Carleton Finch

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11 Entries

Pastors Luis & Michelle Feliciano

August 17, 2025

Shanna Green

September 26, 2023

I got to know Zeke as he was a part of the V-12 naval training program and an alum of the class of 1945 at Bates College, where I work. He dedicated himself to keeping the V-12 group in contact, and traveled to Bates every fall for the veterans luncheon. He was dedicated, kind, funny . . . and the list goes on. He'll be missed dearly by me, and by the others that got to know him through his involvement with Bates. Our hearts go out to his family.

Luis & Michelle Feliciano

September 26, 2023

We thank God for the life of brother Zeke as we kindly called him. Every time we spoke, he always lite up when he spoke about the work of God and how much he loved serving Him. What an example of preserving in the Lord. Thank you Zeke for your great example to us House of Grace and Restoration Church.

Carmela A Manago

September 26, 2023

I will always remember Mr. Finch as such a kind person and inspiring Computer Science teacher at LHS. He challenged me to be the best that I could be and he will be forever remembered. My successful career revolved around Information Technology and I have him to thank for it. Rest in Peace, dear educator, for you have inspired not only me, but many of your former students.

Carmela A Manago
LHS Class of '76

Ron Fratoni

August 25, 2023

I had Mr. Finch during his first year of teaching at Leominster High. Here he was selling tires one day and teaching high school math the next. He was the first to find humor in all the adjustments he was going through and didn´t mind that we all found it very entertaining.

I got a kick out of seeing him pull into the parking lot in his "well-used" pickup truck with tire company signage all over it. One day I was mowing a lawn after school and he ran out of gas right in front me. I had enough fuel to get him going and we both shared a laugh at his misfortune.

Mr. Finch was one of the most memorable teachers I´ve ever had.

Nick DiNinno

August 25, 2023

In my high school days, Mr. Finch was my trigonometry teacher- with a sense of humor and a wry smile :-). Later in life he became my patient in my dental practice and I got to know a truly wonderful human being with a great family. I will miss this man, his kind words, his wit and that smile. My deepest sympathy to all the family, especially to Dave and Carolyn who I have had the pleasure of treating for many years. He was a special man.

Bill & Claire Boudreau

August 24, 2023

Zeke made an impression on us the moment he became Bill's roommate at the Highlands, we only knew him for a short time but we could tell he was a special person. What an accomplished man and a sweetheart, please accept our sincere condolences to his family, we sure missed him when he left. Bill & Claire Boudreau

Steve Tourigny

August 24, 2023

You were my favorite high school teacher and one of a few who inprired me to become an engineer! I still fondly remember your classes and enthusiasm teaching Topics in Abvanced Math at LHS in 1973.

Your class time storytelling was unrivaled! How you were able to weave everyday experiences into a math class was astounding! I can still see you drawing an automatic potato peeler on the blackboard and correlating it to a math function! I was fortunate to love math and found it effortless; your approach drew everyone in and exposed abstract concepts in a way that appealed to those who feared the subject.

As one of the "nerdier" students in your classes, I was part of a small group who were able to use your newly acquired HP9800 series computer. I was only 16 or 17 years old and was immediat hooked. I still remember your excitement when you acquired a memory expansion that was as large as a stereo component and probably only ~16kb.

Thanks to your inspiration, this French-Acadian kid from French Hill became an engineer, had a fascinating career and recently retired.

Thank you Mister Finch!

Steve Tourigny, LHS '74, WPI '78
Grass Valley, CA
[email protected]

Cate O´Neil

August 23, 2023

My sympathies to all of you. What an accomplished man, most evident in his wonderful family. - Cate O´Neil

Philip DeCharles

August 23, 2023

Me. Finc, always helpful to fellow teachers, at Leominster High School, a great story tellers and a great sense of humor. My deep condolences to his family. A life well lived.

Steve Bernard

August 23, 2023

Wonderful gentleman , very talented in so many endeavors. Very fortunate to have been friend and aquantance.

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