Dick Fincher — a longtime Westporter with a quiet passion for the town, and who served it in roles ranging from Tree Board chair, and Earthplace and Staples Tuition Grants board member to Christ & Holy Trinity Church vestryman — died on Monday. He was 86.
His family says:
The Fincher family lost their hero on October 28. Richard “Dick” Fincher enjoyed 86 wonderous trips around the sun.
The Indiana sand dunes, on the shores of Lake Michigan, were his playground.
Raised by 2 adoring uncles and a fiercely protective grandmother. All provided love, strength and a strong set of values, while at the same time imbuing Dick with a lifetime love of all things natural.
High school was spent at Benlippen in Asheville, North Carolina, where he excelled both academically and in sports. Dick was offered a basketball scholarship by Indiana State, and a soccer scholarship to Wheaton College in Illinois.
Wheaton won out. Dick played soccer, and captained his team to an NCAA championship his senior year.
Their first night at Wheaton, Dick met Dorothy “Dottie” Skeoch at a freshman mixer. Their friendship extended into an adventurous 63-year marriage.
Dick Fincher
An ROTC commitment took Dick and Dottie to Fort Lee, Virginia for a Quartermaster School assignment. There, among other commitments, Dick was asked to form and coach the post soccer team.
After completing his military assignment, Dick joined Continental Can Company. For the next 20 years he saw the world.
He then founded his own consulting and recruiting company, which lasted for the next 20 years.
Upon retirement, unable to sit in a hammock, Dick began carving and hand painting cedar fishing lures, which he sold from the Caribbean to Hawaii.
In 1969, this became Dick’s town. He immersed himself in everything Westport.
In addition to Earthplace, the Lillian Wadsworth Arboretum, Staples Tuition Grants, and Christ & Holy Trinity Church, Dick could be found on the sidelines cheering Staples High School soccer games, and attending town meetings where he believed he could make a difference.
Dick Fincher, at the entrance to the Wadsworth Arboretum (corner of Stonybrook Road and Woodside Lane).
His Old Hill neighborhood became his world. He championed formation of the Lillian Wadsworth Arboretum, monitored cars speeding through stop signs, gave advice, cared for folks in dark clothes walking the narrow streets, and worked endless hours in his yard, sharing the abundance of his garden with neighbors.
Seeing and visiting with neighbors, feeding his many birds, sitting on his front porch or strolling with his dog Gunner were the highlights of his day.
Summers found Dick captaining his boat on Long Island Sound, fishing for stripers and blues, and running lobster pots with his boys.
In his wake he leaves Dottie, his beloved sons Rick, Doug (Tracy) and Scott (Julie), 10 adored grandchildren (with a great-grandchild on the way), and many cousins, nieces and nephews whom he loved.
A celebratory service is planned for Christ & Holy Trinity Church on December 28.
A gift in Dick’s name to Staples Tuition Grants’ Dick and Dottie Fincher Award
would delight him.
Dick was a terrific guy and a wonderful neighbor to have while I was growing up. To this day I still park at Earthplace to walk around over there and marvel at The Fincher gardens. Westport and the wonderful Fincher family have lost a great one. My heart goes out to them all.
I am saddened to have lost a friend. Dick was a very good man and will be sorely missed. He was one of Westport’s Unsung Heroes. As chair of the Tree Board, Lillian Wadsworth Arboretum was created. Dick was instrumental in making it happen. He protected that property as if it were his own, leaving 11 acres of Open Space for generations to come. His life was truly a blessing.
Dick was a wonderful man and wonderful neighbor. Just a couple of weeks ago he was on the beach at Compo with his dog Gunner. We’ll miss him.
A wonderful neighbor who will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of calling him a friend.
I was barely into my twenties when Mr. Fincher arrived with the “Marlin” at the boat yard. Rugged, salty, and kind, he often had a cigar in hand. That marked the start of his support for my small place. He always brought words of encouragement for a young kid in over his head and offered great insights from someone clearly experienced in this world. As the boating seasons passed, Mr. “Fisher,” as my little girls called him, was as reliable as the tides. I was never bothered to see him and always admired how he cherished working on that little boat, truly enjoying the experience. Hearing the news saddened me, yet I am immensely thankful for those conversations spent with such a solid Westporter. Wherever you are, Mr. Fincher, the girls and I wish you fair weather, following seas… and I’m certain with those lures, the fishing is excellent.
HIs legacy of a life well lived continues with his wonderful family. I am a better person for having known Mr. Fincher for the last 50 years. Peace and love to the fincher family.