ALFRED - Dr. Peter S. Finlay passed away on March 24, 2018 at Highland Park Nursing Center in Wellsville, NY after a short illness.
Pete was born on October 12, 1924 in Montclair, NJ to George and Edith (Christie) Finlay. Part of his childhood was spent there, as well as in Essex Junction, VT and Great Barrington, MA. Although he was born in suburban New Jersey, Pete developed a love of being active and outdoors by spending summers at family establishments in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State and in Vermont on Lake Champlain.
Pete enlisted in the US Navy while in high school, and upon graduation from the Berkshire School in 1943, joined the Navy Air Corps. As an Ensign, he served primarily as a navigator on patrol missions off the US coast, and was honorably discharged in 1946.
After his discharge from the Navy, Pete obtained a Bachelor's Degree in biology from Williams College, class of 1949, and following graduation, accepted a teaching position at the Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, MA. He continued his education, earning a Master’s Degree in zoology from the University of Vermont in 1953, and then a PhD in zoology from Syracuse University in 1957. His dissertation research was on the incidence toxoplasma in wild birds. During his time at Syracuse, Pete also spent time as a junior assistant in anatomy at the SUNY College of Medicine.
In Syracuse, Pete met, and on August 18, 1956 married his wife of over 61 years, Therese (Londrey) Finlay. That same summer, a representative from Alfred University came to Syracuse looking for a biologist and recruited Pete to fill a position at Alfred. Although initially a one-year contract, it was the beginning of a 34-year career at the university that included teaching two generations of some families. He served as a pre-health professions advisor for most of his career at Alfred. Many future doctors, veterinarians, dentists and other health professionals found his support critical as they pursued their dream.
Pete was an active member of the Alfred University community, serving as Biology Division chair and chair of the Health Professors Advisory Committee, along with serving as member of several other faculty committees, while at the same time pursuing research on protozoan parasites of blood and other tissues in birds and amphibians, and, of course, teaching a wide variety of introductory and advanced biology courses, where he inspired and encouraged countless Alfred University undergraduate students. He was also very involved with the environmental studies program at Alfred and participated in research on Seneca and Keuka Lake with other university science faculty from the departments of biology, chemistry, geology and environmental studies.
Pete was a very engaged father. For many evenings, he read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to Judith and Tim with one of them sitting on each side of his lap when they were young. Meanwhile unbeknownst to them, Douglas was hiding at the top of the stairs because his bedtime was 1 hour earlier than theirs. But mostly Pete was very active with Terry and his children. The family went on many camping trips together traveling most of the Northeast and Southeast part of the US by car and a tent trailer. The camping trips involved hiking, canoeing, birdwatching and seeing many beautiful natural places as well as all the creatures and plants therein. He taught his children many things throughout his whole life. “Who needed the internet? We have Dad!” his children exclaimed.
Pete was always involved with volunteer local and regional activities. He joined the volunteer A.E. Crandall Hook and Ladder Company in 1956 and served often and regularly on the fire line. He and Terry, with several other couples, were instrumental in the development of the ambulance service, assisting in leading the fund drives that allowed the purchase of the company's first ambulance. He became fire chief in 1963, and served for nine years in that position. No other person has served as chief that long. He was also a member and chair of the Alfred Village Board of Appeals, a member of the Alfred/Alfred Station Community Chest (chairing the campaign for many years), a board member of the Irondequoit Club in Piseco, NY and volunteered with Terry for the Allegany County Office for the Aging.
In his retirement, Pete spent many years traveling the US with Terry camping in their travel trailer, extending their birdwatching life lists, attending elder hostels and seeing the country. Rumor has it that Terry was the only one who actually kept a written life list. They were long time, active members of the Allegany County Bird Club. They also ventured outside of the US to the Galapagos Islands and down the Rhine River on a cruise.
Pete was a member of the Union University Church and sang in the choir for many years. He loved all types of music from Mozart to Country and Western. He and Terry participated in country and western dancing for a time. He also participated in barber shop singing groups, including the Maple City Barbershop Chorus.
Pete is survived by his wife, Terry and their three children Judith, Tim, and Douglas. He was predeceased by his sister, Edith and his brother, Dick.
At his request, a private burial will be at the Alfred Rural Cemetery at the convenience of the family, and a public memorial service is scheduled for Saturday May 19, 2018 at 3 pm at the Union University Church in Alfred, NY.
Pete’s wife, children, friends and former colleagues and students will dearly miss this helpful, kind and caring husband, father, community member, friend and professor.
In lieu of flowers, those who would like to, can make a donation to Trout Unlimited, a non-profit “dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species”.
