Sports
12 • May 12, 2018 | The BG/NC Sun
www.suncommunitynews.com
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
suncommunitynews.com/sports
North Country legend Gary Finney dies Local sports and square dancing icon fondly remembered across region By Keith Lobdell STA FF W RITER
PLATTSBURGH | The North Country is remembering a local icon this week with the passing of former Keeseville Mayor Gary Boyd Finney. Finney passed away Sunday, April 29. He turned 80 just four days earlier. Finney was also known by many as a coach, athletic apparel and trophy maker as well as a musician and square dance caller, a passion which he brought into the schools from Champlain to the Capital Region. He was born in Plattsburgh on April 25, 1938, the son of William and Dorothy (Boyd) Finney. Gary graduated from Plattsburgh High School in 1956 and attended Ithaca College. He owned and operated Finney Sports in Plattsburgh and was a local musician and entertainer for most of his life.
COACH, MUSICIAN
Finney was a three-sport coach at AuSable Valley, coaching baseball, basketball and football. He also coached at Willsboro and Chazy. “Gary was a staple of our athletics program at AVCS,” said Athletic Director Kurt Munson. “He coached our 1986 baseball team to a Final Four run, was a head boys basketball coach, and coached football for years. He was all about the kids. When he would do his square dancing at AVCS, it was like a yearly coming home celebration.” AVCS Superintendent Paul Savage recounted Finney as a friend, as his coach and as a dedicated and respected community member and business owner. “Coach was not only a good friend to me, but was also my football coach and baseball
coach at AVCS many years ago,” he said. “He impacted my life very positively in each of those roles just as he had for many students in the AVCS communities and he will be greatly missed by us all.” “You could not ask for a more knowledgeable guy when it came to sports, sitting down with him and asking questions to him,” said Westport PE teacher and Athletic Director Brad Rascoe. “I’ve known him for well over 40 years. I played basketball against him in high school when he was coaching AuSable. I don’t think kids today know that he was a coach. He also had one of the best set shots I have ever seen.”
SQUARE DANCING
Finney traveled throughout the northeastern half of New York state, bringing his passion for square dancing to numerous schools, spending a few days at each district instructing students at all grade levels in everything from a do-si-do to bringing your partner home. Former Essex County Fair Manager Ernie LaPine said doing so was his biggest joy in recent years. “He told me he couldn’t wait each year for the school year to start,” LaPine said. “He always had a joke or a story he could tell for everything and he enjoyed inter-mingling with the people. Every year, he would come down and walk the old cattle barn before the fair just to walk through it for memory’s sake.” Saranac Central PE teacher Ashley Eney said students would come into gym class the first day of school and ask when the square dancing unit would be, and if Finney would be the instructor, citing his humor, laughter and passion for the activity. “His passion for square dancing and working with students was very evident when he came each year,” Eney said. “He not only taught the students about square dancing, but he also taught them about the importance of trial and error, making your best effort and, most importantly, laughter.” Savage recalled his storytelling abilities, and said he not only enjoyed people, but took
Gary Finney (right) and his Upstate New Yorker’s partner, Donnie Perkins, perform in between races at the Essex County Fair. Finney passed away April 29, leaving an incredible legacy of service and music with many local communities. Photo by Keith Lobdell the time to get to know them. “The children loved him, his players loved him, and he was a true character to the every end.” Rascoe referred to him as a “square dance king.” “Northern New York as a whole has lost a very well-known, wonderful guy.” Students also fondly recalled the lessons. “I remember when I was in sixth grade and my partner was Ryan Davis, who was a six-foot senior, just swinging me around,” said Westport senior Lizzie Stephens. “They were my favorite days. The whole high school would show up in the gym.” Finney served as the former mayor of Keeseville and served many communities through his work at Finney Sports and with the Upstate New Yorkers. The band would play at many places throughout the North Country, including the Essex County Fair,
Gary Finney providing music between the horse races. Gary is survived by his wife, Gerry; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Patty, Tom and Lori, and Andy and Melissa; grandchildren, Andrew, Trevor, Rachel, Alisha, Jaden, and Jess; great-grandson, Bentley; and many extended family members. Calling hours will be held Thursday, May 3, from 3 to 7 p.m., at the Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru. A funeral service will be held Friday, May 4, 2018 at 11 a.m., at St. Augustine’s Church in Peru with Rev. Peggi J. Eller, officiating. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to the Peru Community Church, the Keeseville Rescue Squad or the charity of one’s choice. ■
Opening weekend at Airborne Speedway May 5
Annual Mother’s Day Buffet — May 13th, 2018 — Brunch
dinner
l
9:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M.
2:30 p.M.- 6:00 P.M.
Adult: $16.95 Senior: $14.95 Children up to 12 years old: $10.95 Children under 6: Free
Adult: $20.95 Senior: $18.95 Children up to 12 years old: $10.95 Children under 6: Free
_____
Reservations Required (518) 834-9785
TryIt,You'll LoveIt!!
Valley Medical
164 Boynton Avenue, Suite #103 Plattsburgh, NY 12901
rS
Hours by Appointment: 518-566-6740 Fax: 518-566-6904
184504
www.americasmattress.com Mon.-Sat. 10-5 • Sun. by appt. 23 Weed Street, Plattsburgh
518-566-9950
20 SETS FOR 599 OR LESS
$
Many Models In Stock For Fast Delivery! Sleep Cooler with iComfort Cool Action Memory Foam! Near Georgia Pacific - Exit 38 South, left on Boynton Ave., cross railroad tracks, right on Weed St. 137955
Board Certified Internal Medicine
www.suncommunitynews.com
The Area’s Largest Selection of Serta Mattresses!
Amertca's MATTRESS "
Viqar A. Qudsi, M.D., F.A.C.P.
convenience store for sale 4500 sq.ft. next to Post Office Route 9, Chazy, NY
Assessed value $225,000 Asking $139,000 OBO - Contact Owner at (518) 298-3050 -
183890
183948
Harmony Golf Club & Community Presents its