Bernard F. Finnegan Jr., 63

ADAMS, Mass. — Bernard Francis Finnegan Jr., 63, of Adams, Mass., died on Sunday, February 10, 2019, at his home.

He was born in Sydney, N.Y., on August 20, 1955, a son of Vida (Carson) Finnegan and the late Bernard Francis Finnegan. Bernard attended schools in Sydney, N.Y., graduating from Sydney High School, where he was an accomplished athlete. He played football and basketball and was recently inducted in to its Athletic Hall of Fame. He went on to attend SUNY Cortland, where he majored in physical education, later earning his master's degree in education administration from the University of Albany.

Bernard was an educator for the Troy City School District and later in North Carolina. He was last employed as a member of the grounds crew at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown. Bernard was an active and beloved member of the sports community and served as an official referee for Berkshire County and Western Massachusetts in boys and girls basketball, girls lacrosse, softball, soccer and volleyball. He was also an assistant basketball coach for several colleges, including SUNY Oneonta.
He loved to ski and spend time in the outdoors, and was an avid Yankee and New York Giants fan. He was a member of the PNA Lodge #1365.  

Survivors include his mother, Vida (Carson) Finnegan of Norwich, N.Y.; his wife, Robin Victoria (Hamel) Finnegan of Adams; daughter Casey Marie Finnegan Ronan and her husband, Nathan, of Oklahoma; granddaughter Candace Atwell; brothers James Finnegan and his companion, Marcia Browne, of Norwich, N.Y., and Kevin Finnegan and his wife, Dawn, of Oxford, NY..; as well as nieces and nephews.

Funeral notice: A funeral service to celebrate the life of Bernard Finnegan Jr. will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 8 p.m. at the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montaga Home for Funerals, West Chapel, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. Calling hours at the funeral home will be held from 5 p.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Berkshire Humane Society in care of the funeral home.