Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
Richard Donald Finn, Jr., 88, passed away peacefully at home under the care of OhioHealth Hospice and his family on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Richard (Dick) was born March 12, 1933 in Lima, Ohio. He was the oldest son of Dorothy and Richie Finn Sr. and was brother to Gerry (deceased), Mary Jo, Bonnie and John. Growing up in Lima, he attended St. Rose Catholic School where he met his wife, Mildred (Bea) Henne whom he later married in 1956. At St. Rose, Dick competed in the classroom for top honors with his future sister-in-law Norma (Henne) Willet and during those years developed his love for baseball - football and basketball were not far behind. His mother always said her son left the house early in the day with ball glove in hand, bat over the shoulder and a sandwich in his back pocket not to return until the sun went down. Many lifelong friendships were formed in Lima where St. Rose won the baseball State championship in 1951. Dick never tired of telling stories of his talented teammates from those days. Dick continued his education and baseball at The Ohio State University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education and was a pitcher on the baseball team, captaining the 1955 team to a Big Ten Championship and served as President of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Upon graduating and finding a job teaching math, science and coaching football and baseball at Toledo Central Catholic, Dick married his sweetheart Bea and began a family. The player in him not yet ready to lay down his glove, he pitched batting practice for the Toledo Mud Hens. He earned a Master’s Degree in Microbiology from the University of Toledo and continued to teach and coach at Toledo Woodward. Dick became the head baseball coach at the University of Toledo in 1964 and remained for 5 yrs. In 1969 and 7 children later, Coach Finn was lured back to OSU and stepped in for Marty Karow, the OSU baseball coach while he recovered from an illness. After remaining 6 yrs. as an assistant, in 1975 Coach Finn became the Head Baseball coach until stepping down in 1987 to become the Special Assistant to Athletic Director Rick Bay. Coach Finn loved what he did - it cannot be argued. His love of sport never waned and his emphasis on education whether formal or otherwise was a prominent part of any discussion he had with his players and children. His work ethic was an example to all - sometimes you just had to do the hard things. Coach retired from athletics in 1994. That’s when his golf game really got good! Retirement was spent on the golf course either playing or volunteering as an OSU course official for many NCAA tournaments and following all sports at OSU. Much time was spent simply sitting on the front porch in the evening with his wife of 60 yrs. while enjoying a cigar, chatting with neighbors and jumping in anytime his kids needed a sitter, a ride or a hand with a project. Coach was inducted into the OHSBCA Hall of Fame in 1975, Lima Central Catholic HOF in 1990, Ohio Central District HOF in 2000, and Toledo CC HOF in 2006. Coach Finn was a big believer in supporting his local community beginning with service in The National Guard and then locally at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church where he served on the parish council. He worked a corner for the Charity Newsies for many years and served as President of the local chapter, was selected by the Columbus Shamrock Club as Irishman of the Year in 1993. Coach Finn kept his hand in baseball at all times, always in touch with his former players, reaching out to inquire as to their wellbeing and giving a gentle reminder to give back if they could. Coach on the field and father at home, he always had his children’s back attending their many, many functions and gamely taking on many vacation adventures. His 10 grandchildren and 2 great grands held a special place in his heart and he took great joy from their visits, always making sure they knew he was always available for a conversation, a story or candy. Friends may call 2-5 Sunday, Nov. 21 at the Egan- Ryan Funeral Home Northwest Chapel 4661 Kenny Rd. Cols., 43220 (614)451-5900. A Funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 am Monday, November 22, 2021 at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 20 E. Dominion Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43214. Immediately following the Mass, a luncheon will be held for all family, relatives and friends - please say hello and share your stories. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to The Buckeye Diamond Club @ thebuckeyediamondclub.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard D. Finn, Jr,, please visit our floral store.