Finkle
KINGSTON – Steven Finkle, the former economic development director
in the City of Kingston, has died. He passed away at a Philadelphia hospital
on Tuesday, following a long illness, family friends said. He was 59.
Before Finkle’s long tenure with Kingston government, he was the
business development director at Stewart Airport near Newburgh, where
he was instrumental in developing the airport’s industrial park.
Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo praised Finkle.
“Given three administrations, three mayors in this city, in economic
development and community development he was very, very much involved
and had a real significant impact on the city’s economic growth
and quality of life,” the mayor said.
March Gallagher, chief strategist at Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress,
remembered Finkle as a friend and mentor who had much influence on the
region.
“He had a huge impact from Orange County to Ulster County and when
I traveled around the state or went to New York State economic development
council meetings, everyone knew Steve Finkle. He trained economic development
professionals by giving courses. His impact is really tremendous,”
she said.
Deputy Dutchess County Planning Commissioner Ronald Hicks said Finkle
was a “mentor and friend” with whom he worked on an off for
some 15 years. “He was a wealth of information and just an all around
great man. His power was knowledge and a genuine compassion and concern
for the betterment of the region, but particularly for the people of Kingston,”
Hicks said.
Since Finkle left Kingston government some three years ago, he had operated
an economic development consulting firm. He is survived by his wife and
daughter.
