John "Tom" Finnegan

John "Tom" Finnegan Sr., 87, a man of deep faith, sharp intellect, and unwavering devotion to his family, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026.

Born in Chicago, Tom was a proud member of the second graduating class of Mendel Catholic High School before earning his bachelor's degree from St. Mary's in Winona, MN. He honorably served his country as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, where he sailed on the USS Pickett, navigated out of West Coast, and concluded his service by shaping the next generation of sailors as a drill instructor at Great Lakes Naval Base.

Tom's professional legacy was defined by a distinguished 39-year career at Motorola. As an executive in development, he traveled the globe building the world's cellular infrastructure, including a memorable assignment in Singapore with his beloved wife, Joyce. Tom also served on the board of directors of Hutchison Telecommunications in Hong Kong. Despite his global reach-including a deeply impactful pilgrimage to the Holy Land-Tom remained rooted in his community. He was a longtime resident of Libertyville, a devoted member of St. Joseph Parish, and a co-founder of the Carmel High School Street Scenes fundraiser.

Known for his analytical mind and his talent for woodworking, Tom could solve almost any complex challenge, yet he always prioritized the simple joys of family. He never missed his children's baseball or football games, and he considered his greatest achievement to be the growth and success of his family.

Tom is survived by his wife Ruby; his children Tom Jr. (Maren), Cathy (Fred) McClendon, Michael (Amy), Sean (Pam); his stepchildren Anna and Robert McCormick; his grandchildren Kyle (Rashmi), Maggie, Grace, Lauren, Jack (fiancé Katie), Abby (Peter), Molly, and Riley; and his dearest great-grandson Auggie. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rodney and Hazel and his first wife Joyce and his in-laws Marilyn and Pat Trainor.

Funeral Mass for Tom will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday March 20, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 121 E Maple Ave., Libertyville, with a visitation one hour prior to Mass at McMurrough Funeral Chapel, 101 Park Pl, Libertyville. Interment with military honors will follow at Ascension Cemetery, Libertyville. In lieu of flowers, memorials made to Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org or Marytown https://de.kolbeshrine.org/donations would be greatly appreciated. Funeral arrangements by McMurrough Funeral Chapel (847) 362-2626.