Worcester - James J. Finnegan, 80, passed away Friday, January 20, 2012, at UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus. His wife, Melita (Baltgalvis) passed away in 1986. He leaves a daughter, Kristine O. Finnegan of Nelson, NH; sons, Daniel J. Finnegan of Cambridge, MA and Matthew Z. Finnegan of Twentynine Palms, CA; and loving nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
He was born in Floral Park, NY, son of Florence E. (Staib) and James J. Finnegan, Sr. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Upon completion of college, he worked in the insurance industry for 35 years, first as an investigator for Liberty Mutual and later as a Claims Manager and Manger for Special Accounts at Hanover Insurance. During his wife's illness with ALS, Mr. Finnegan dedicated himself to her care at home while maintaining his full-time job and duties as a father. Mr. Finnegan was a member of Salem Covenant Church and conducted bible studies there.
After the death of his wife and before retirement, he dedicated his free time to disseminating a message of Christian non-violence, mostly through a media campaign conducted from the basement of his Greendale home, and to the support of the Catholic Worker in Worcester. Also, he traveled to the Refugee Camps in Honduras with a team of Catholic missionaries and relief workers.
Later, during his retirement, he dedicated his time to the study of Christian and Jewish Scripture at home, Assumption College, and Temple Emanuel, and to volunteer work at Shirley State Prison, the Worcester County House of Corrections, and Dismas House, taking special interest in conducting bible studies for incarcerated persons and, at times, to providing counsel and support to them during the period of their social reintegraton.
A Memorial Service will be held at Salem Covenant Church, 215 East Mountain St., Worcester, on Monday, January 23, at 7:00 pm. Members of the family will welcome attendees beginning at 6:00 pm and offer refreshments afterwards in the church hall. Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street directed arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Mustard Seed of Worcester, 93 Piedmont St. Worcester, MA 01609-2017 or to Dismas House, 30 Richards St. Worcester, MA 01603-2609. To leave an online condolence message, please click link below.