It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of (George) Finley Fenn from cancer on November 3, 2023 in Ilderton, Ontario. Survived by his loving wife Helene, son Craig (wife Jodi), daughter Lisa (husband David) and his five amazing grandchildren Bianca, Callum, Stella, Gracie, and Jack.
Finley served with the Metropolitan Toronto Police from 1956 – 1988 starting by walking the beat in Toronto. He went on to work traffic, driving a Harley Davidson even in the winter (with a sidecar), to plain clothes and then at Pearson Airport working alongside the Mounties. After retiring from the force, Finley took a course in labour law and became a mediation officer for another decade.
A pitcher (slow pitch), hockey player (centre), golfer and jive dancer, Fin lived large. A brilliant story and joke teller, he could regale an audience with humour for hours at a time, never repeating a joke or forgetting a punch line.
A lover of jazz and Louis Armstrong, whom he met in 1958, Fin would take to the dance floor with Helene, cutting the rug for hours. All this dancing while dressed like “Charlie downtown”.
A good whisky (Canadian rye) or Cognac (VSOP) and cigar were guilty pleasures that Finley enjoyed with friends. Of course, a Cuba Libra was also imbibed in the summertime at the cottage.
Although born in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay), Finley grew up in Wiarton Ontario, appearing in the Wiarton Newspaper yearly as the first to jump into the icy waters of Colpoys Bay in the springtime. He loved the Bruce Peninsula and bought a cottage in Oliphant and spent all his summers swimming, boating and watching the spectacular sunsets.
As Finley would say, “Oh the stories I could tell, but my throat's so dry…..”, may his stories live on forever……”Oh yaaaaa…………..”
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you donate to a cancer charity of your choice. Finley has asked for us to celebrate his life in July at the cottage with the backdrop of sunny days, cocktails at the tiki bar and lots of Louis Armstrong.