Obituary of Edward S. Finein

Edward S. Finein

Rochester: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at age 93. Predeceased by his parents, Edward Charles and Ella Suss Finein; sister, Jean Smith and brother-in-law. Edward is survived by his loving wife, Andrea; daughter, Leslie (Keith) Leerssen of Scottsdale Arizona; sons, Mike Finein of San Francisco, CA, Tim Finein of Webster NY, Mark Finein of San Francisco, CA and their mother, Mona Finein; stepsons, Kevin (Kathy) Knorr, Ken (Holly) Knorr; stepdaughter, Deidre Chornopyski Desarden (David); 13 grandchildren, Shawn Finein, Zack (Shawna), Rebecca and Rachel Finein,  Ryan, Andy and Faye Leerssen, Ryan, Cameron, Julie and Claire Knorr,  David and Ashley Desarden; 4 great-grandaughters, Clover, Cora and Charlie Finein (Zack),  Charlotte Leerssen (Ryan); sister-in-law, Alicia Hrywnak; brother-in-law Randy (Kim) Hrywnak, a niece several nephews and good friends.

Born in Rochester June 20, 1927. He graduated from East High School and joined the Army after graduation. Ed was hired by Haloid in 1952 after leaving the army and started in the factory. Haloid purchased the Chester Carlson patent for a plan paper copy process that become xerography and became Haloid-Xerox and then Xerox. As the company grew, Ed moved up with the company. As he often said, he worked in virtually every area including research, sales and operations. His picture is in the Smithsonian as part of the engineering group that produced the first plain paper copier, the 914. He would often tell the story of the first time they presented the 914, they had a second copier set up on the other side of the building and if the first one started smoking, they were to move everyone to the second copier. He traveled around the world and spent a lot of time with Xerox in England and Europe. During these years he somehow found time to finally get his engineering degree from the University of Rochester.  When he retired from Xerox in 1989, he was a Vice President.  After retiring from Xerox, he formed Finein and Associates and continued working around the world as a consultant.  At the symposiums he spoke at, he was often referred to as the “Grandfather of Benchmarking”. As much as he traveled, he loved Rochester and its history, every visit home had to include a drive through “the old neighborhoods”.  He was active in the YMCA from a teenager throughout his life and coached basketball at the old downtown YMCA. Ed also loved golf, sailing, jazz, opera, travel, good restaurants and wine. His kids all sailed with him. After they were grown and gone, he sailed with families from the Sodus yacht club. When they pulled into port, the kids on the other boats would follow him because he knew the best ice cream places.  He loved to sail in treacherous weather. When everyone else was heading to port, he would be heading out. He had a love for music and his hi-fi stereo, one of which he built himself.  Ed loved to master any endeavor he took on; basketball, pool, ping pong, golf or sailing and was still golfing and shooting an 80 at 80! Later in life he had a place in Hilton Head, South Carolina and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where his family and grandchildren would come to visit and make great memories. He still knew the best ice cream places! When Ed was about 80, he formed a 10-year plan which included getting his real estate license. He didn’t care so much about selling as talking to people when they came into the open house. He had wonderful friends from all his years at Xerox and sailing and helped put on the Xerox Reunion Dinners. Even at 80 he had the energy a 40-year-old would envy and you could never beat him up a set of stairs.  He worked out until he was 90. We will miss his energy, his wisdom and his stories and his wine.  

In adhering to state requirements, all guests are required to wear face masks. Upon entering the building guests will also be asked to use hand sanitizer. Thank you.

His family will receive friends Tuesday, October 6^th, 4:00 - 7:00pm at the funeral home (570 Kings Highway So.). A Celebration of Edward’s Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Ed’s name to UR Medicine Hospice,

2180 Empire Blvd., Webster, NY  14580.   For more information please contact the foundation at 585-274-4253