In Memory of our Beloved Brother
Sir Knight FINERTY, Michael Palmer
Born - 05 October 1943 Called Home - 07 July 2023
Mike joined our council 22 Jan 1997. He served as "Inside Guard" and was present at most of our council activities. He was a faithful usher at the 1:00pm Mass on Sundays for many years. He donated several telescopes to Saints Peter & Paul Catholic School for the science program. He also donated framed copies of our Nation’s founding documents that are proudly hanging in the main building at the school.
Michael (Mike) Palmer Finerty passed away on Friday, July 7, 2023 at the age of 79. He leaves behind his daughter Jennifer, his half-brother Mattew, his nieces and nephews, and his life-long friends Loma and Marry-Effie and many others whose lives he impacted.
Mike was born in New York and attended school in Canada. He served in the Vietnam War, and attended the University of Arizona, where he received Masters in English and Drama, while also studying Astronomy, Physics, and Mathematics. Ever in the pursuit of education and knowledge, Mike continued his postgraduate studies with Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology.
Mike's life-long erudite pursuits came to maturation after struggles. While in secondary school, Mike dropped out. Later in life he stated that he was illiterate at this time, making school impossible for him. He later taught himself to read, which culminated in a life-long passion for education.
Not content with his solitary cache of information, Mike endeavored to distribute knowledge to everyone. He made several "mission" trips to Mexico where he taught locals about astronomy and microbiology, and distributed science supplies he had gathered (microscopes, telescopes, etc.), trying to propagate understanding of celestial bodies and prevent the transmissions of diseases. He also relentlessly strived to make lives better closer to home, sharing his knowledge with those around him, and through letters. Mike was a prolific epistoler, writing to a variety of audiences; friends, family, politicians, and religious figures. He also self-published several books, not just based on his scientific studies, but also literary works of poetry. For Mike, knowledge and understanding were meant to be cultivated incessantly, and also distributed universally.
While we are saddened by our loss, we take solace in the knowledge that SK Mike Finerty is now with our Lord.
WORTHY SIR KNIGHT UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Mike was born in New York and attended school in Canada. He served in the Vietnam War, and attended the University of Arizona, where he received Masters in English and Drama, while also studying Astronomy, Physics, and Mathematics. Ever in the pursuit of education and knowledge, Mike continued his postgraduate studies with Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology.
Mike's life-long erudite pursuits came to maturation after struggles. While in secondary school, Mike dropped out. Later in life he stated that he was illiterate at this time, making school impossible for him. He later taught himself to read, which culminated in a life-long passion for education.
Not content with his solitary cache of information, Mike endeavored to distribute knowledge to everyone. He made several "mission" trips to Mexico where he taught locals about astronomy and microbiology, and distributed science supplies he had gathered (microscopes, telescopes, etc.), trying to propagate understanding of celestial bodies and prevent the transmissions of diseases. He also relentlessly strived to make lives better closer to home, sharing his knowledge with those around him, and through letters. Mike was a prolific epistoler, writing to a variety of audiences; friends, family, politicians, and religious figures. He also self-published several books, not just based on his scientific studies, but also literary works of poetry. For Mike, knowledge and understanding were meant to be cultivated incessantly, and also distributed universally.
While we are saddened by our loss, we take solace in the knowledge that SK Mike Finerty is now with our Lord.
WORTHY SIR KNIGHT UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN