Peter Finnegan

Peter Myles Finnegan

June 2, 1938-August 13, 2014

Passed away peacefully at home in San Francisco, surrounded by his loving family at the age of 76. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dr. Natalie Katz Berg, daughter Alison Finnegan Etcheverry (John), son Stephen Myles Finnegan (Sandy), stepchildren, Jonathan Berg (Nicole), Joanna Berg (Dan), and Jennifer Berg (Ray). Peter is the grandfather of Catherine Rose Finnegan, Jason & Alex Finklestein, and Myles & Cara Plumhoff. Brothers William J. Finnegan and Denis Finnegan preceded Peter in death. Peter leaves behind his brother, Paul M. Finnegan (Rita), brother-in-law Milton Katz (Jessie), sisters-in-law Esther Mecker, Susan Tremblay (Gene), and Sheila Bruce, nephews Dennis Finnegan, Matthew Finnegan (Julie), Daniel Finnegan, and niece Maggie Finnegan, and additional nieces and nephews on the East Coast, as well the mother of his children, Sarah Alice Finnegan.
Peter was born to John Francis Finnegan and Mary Farley Finnegan. An SF native, he lived on De Soto Street, in the Ingleside District, attended St. Emydius ('52), St. Ignatius ('56), the Jesuit Seminary in Los Gatos ('56-'60), USF ('61), SF State University ('63, MA), Georgetown University for graduate work ('63-'65) and four years of doctoral work in Public Policy and Higher Education at U.C. Berkeley.
Mr. Finnegan's life and career were devoted to government and public service. After having worked for the Democratic National Committee in Washington D.C. ('63-65), he served in the Peace Corps in Venezuela from 1965-67. Upon returning to California, he worked for Assemblyman John Foran, and later, State Senator (now Judge) Quentin Kopp. Twice he ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in 1971 and 1980. He was elected as a Trustee to the SF City Community College Board in 1972, serving for eight years, and as President of the board from '76-'78.
Appointed Chairman of the Alcoholic Beverage Appeals Board in 1975, serving as chairman for eight years, Mr. Finnegan wrote the decision that eliminated "price fixing" in liquor. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, where it was upheld.
In 1981, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Mr. Finnegan to a five-year term on the State Board of Governors of the California Community College System. Peter served in various capacities during the Brown, Dukmejian, Wilson, and Schwarzenegger administrations, and later as a lobbyist, in Sacramento.
Peter was an avid member of the original Press Club on Post Street, and later, the Concordia-Argonaut Club. In addition to his passion for history and politics, Mr. Finnegan loved attending the SF Symphony and Opera, as well as studying at the Fromm Institute at USF, when he wasn't traveling the world with his dear wife Natalie. A favorite phrase was "Per aspera ad astra", or "Through difficulty, to the stars!" He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
Memorial Services will be held at Saint Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Ave, at the corner of Fulton, on Saturday, August 23 at 10 am. A reception will follow at The Fromm Institute, 660 Parker Ave San Francisco, CA 94117.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, 2001 37th Ave, SF, CA 94116, or City College of San Francisco. A scholarship fund has been established at CCSF, where he was a former Trustee and Board President. Donations may be made to the Peter Finnegan Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 40488, San Francisco, CA 94140.