Edward M Finn

Edward M. Finn, Jr., 93, passed away December 19, 2020 after a short illness. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 5, 1927. He was the son of the late Edward M. Finn and Madelin Keating. Ed was married to his beloved wife Mary for 57 years before she passed in 2013. He is survived by his four children, Edward M. Finn III of St. Augustine, Fla.; Kevin M. Finn (Kelly) of Fairfield CT.; Thomas J. Finn (Anne) Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Sheila M. Schwedes (Eric) of Syracuse, N.Y.; and his six grandchildren Kevin T. Finn, Thomas J. Finn, Jr., Amelia C. Finn, Erin C. Schwedes, Aiden M. Schwedes and Logan T. Schwedes. He was predeceased by his brother, William Finn, and sister Madelin Hannan. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Ed graduated from Saint John’s Preparatory School in Brooklyn at age sixteen. He attended Saint John’s University for a year prior to enlisting in the Navy. He completed Basic training and training as an Aviation Ordinance man. Ed completed training as a rear gunner for the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber in Corpus Christie, Texas and earned his Air Crew Wings shortly before World War II ended. Ed again answered the call to serve during the Korean War and was assigned to the aircraft carrier Antietam. The Antietam patrolled the Sea of Japan and provided United Nations ground troops with air support. Ed earned the Korean Service Medal (2 Stars) and United Nations Medal for his service during the Korean War. Ed was very proud of his military service and was a patriot until the end. Upon Receiving an Honorable discharge from the Navy, Ed was hired by Benjamin Moore Company as a salesman. Ed’s progress in the company required his young family to move from Rochester, N.Y. to Canton, Ohio, to Pittsburgh PA where Ed was a regional sales manager. In 1974 Ed purchased a Benjamin Moore paint store in Poughkeepsie, New York and realized lifelong ambition of owning his own business. Ed ran the business, and pursued other business ventures, until he and Mary moved to Hilton Head in 1998. Ed and Mary built a home in Palmetto Dunes where they enjoyed frequent visits from family, especially their grandchildren. Both Ed and Mary were parishioners at Holy Family Catholic Church. In his last years, Ed lived at the Island Cove on Hilton Head where he made many close friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on December 30 at 11:00 am at Holy Family Catholic Church on Hilton Head Island . Ed will be interred at Beaufort National Cemetery