Jerome Jerry W. Finnigan passed away at age 86 on December 6, 2010. He was born February 9, 1924 to Ralph and Camilla Finnigan in Oak Park, Illinois. He served in the Navy during WWII and, after his discharge in 1946, began studying chemical engineering at Northwestern University. During that time he married his wife, Nancy, his spouse for 61 years. After graduating from Northwestern, Jerry and Nancy moved to the Tri-Cities where Jerry was employed at Hanford. His education in chemical engineering continued with a Master’s degree from the University of Idaho, a Ph. D from Oregon State University and a career long association with several professional societies: The American Institute of Chemical Engineers, The American Ordnance Association and the American Nuclear Society. He was employed in management positions with General Electric and Battelle before becoming Dean of the Joint Center for Graduate Studies in Richland in 1981 where he served through its transition to the Tri-Cities University Center. In 1989 when TCU became the Tri-Cities campus of Washington State University he retired, taking great satisfaction in the opportunities he had helped create for local students to obtain advanced degrees without leaving the Tri-Cities.

Jerry was always active in community service. He served for many years on the United Way Board of Directors, serving as Board Chairman in 1984 and was named United Way’s Distinguished Volunteer of the Year in 1985. He was a leader in establishing the Benton-Franklin chapter of the American Heart Association and served a term as President of the Board of Directors. He also provided many years of service on the Board of Directors of the Volunteer Center and on the Citizen’s Advisory Board of The Salvation Army. He played a pivotal role in bringing public radio Fine Arts Radio and public television KCTS Channel 9 to the Tri-Cities community. Jerry was named Manager of the Year by the local chapter of AMA and was an active member of The Friends of the Richland Public Library. He also served on the Governor’s Nuclear Waste Advisory Council and was an early member of the Board of Directors of Stirling Technology Company and the Tri-Cities Enterprise Association.

His commitment to helping one community and one child at a time was especially evident when he became a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Tri-Cities Industry, serving as that club’s President in 1990-91. Among many Kiwanis club projects two were particular favorites: The Salvation Army Christmas bell ringing campaigns and a program to collect and distribute old spectacles to those unable to afford the eyesight correction they so desperately need. For his dedicated service to the Kiwanis he received the George F. Hixson Fellowship Award and the Kiwanis Legion of Honor medal.

Since childhood, one of Jerry’s favorite hobbies was the study and performance of magic. He especially enjoyed working with members of his family and with friends, performing magic shows throughout the community. He also encouraged and mentored a number of young people to develop an interest in magic as a hobby. Many Tri-Citians will remember learning from Jerry how to do rope tricks and the jumping rubber bands. Elementary school principals, clergymen and Blue Angel pilots alike were beheaded in his guillotine and lived to tell the tale.

Preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jim, he is survived by his wife, Nancy, their four children, Skip, Patty, Carol, Janet and his son-in-law Matt Sollender. A memorial service will be held at Einan’s Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 21st at 11:00 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army or charity of your choice.

Jerry was a wonderful husband, father, friend and mentor to many people. He was one in a million and our hearts are broken with his passing. We love you, Dad.