Patrick Finnegan
September 20, 1949 - July 2, 2018
Resided in Midlothian, VA
FINNEGAN, Patrick BRIGADIER GENERAL (R) of Midlothian, VA passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 2, 2018 after suffering a massive coronary. He is survived by his true love, his wife of 47 years, Joan; daughters Katie (Rucker) and Jenna (Bechen); and grandchildren Alyssa, Jack, Patrick, and Connor; and his beloved puppy Rookie.
General Finnegan attended United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in the class of 1971. He then attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School for Government, graduating in 1973 with a master’s degree in public administration. General Finnegan later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia in 1979, serving as an editor of the Law Review and being elected to the Order of the Coif, an academic honor society.
General Finnegan had a distinguished career in the Army. After a distinguished career in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, General Finnegan returned to West Point to serve as professor and head of the department of law before being appointed the 12th Dean of the Academic Board in 2005, retiring in 2010.
While in the Army, he served a three-year tour in Germany, handled an assignment at the JAG School in Charlottesville and participated with the XIII Airborne Corps in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served in the Persian Gulf in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield and was decorated with several commendations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medal.
During his tenure as the Dean of the Academic Board, West Point was the top-ranked public institution for higher education by Forbes.
General Finnegan also served as Longwood University’s 25th president, capturing the hearts of students and helping usher in a new era for Longwood athletics. His rapport with Longwood students ran deep. With his ever-present smile and participation in campus traditions like Color Wars—where he wasn’t afraid to stand in the middle of a scrum of hundreds of students and emerge doused in green and red paint—he became a beloved figure at the university despite his brief tenure as president. An ebullient supporter of Longwood athletics, President Finnegan was a staple at Lancer games and matches, often painting his face blue and cheering wildly alongside the Lancer Lunatics at basketball games.
While at Longwood, President Finnegan championed efforts to help Longwood reach greater heights in all phases, from setting in motion an academic master plan to championing efforts to expand international educational opportunities for students. He also led the university’s transition from Division 1 independent status into the Big South Conference.
Patrick claimed to be an ordinary man living an extraordinary life. In this regard, he was wrong. He was truly an extraordinary man. Life will go on, but it will never be as much fun.
Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time TBD. The family requests donations to Wounded Warriors Project in lieu of flowers.
Bliley's Funeral Home, Richmond, Virginia
September 20, 1949 - July 2, 2018
Resided in Midlothian, VA
FINNEGAN, Patrick BRIGADIER GENERAL (R) of Midlothian, VA passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 2, 2018 after suffering a massive coronary. He is survived by his true love, his wife of 47 years, Joan; daughters Katie (Rucker) and Jenna (Bechen); and grandchildren Alyssa, Jack, Patrick, and Connor; and his beloved puppy Rookie.
General Finnegan attended United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in the class of 1971. He then attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School for Government, graduating in 1973 with a master’s degree in public administration. General Finnegan later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia in 1979, serving as an editor of the Law Review and being elected to the Order of the Coif, an academic honor society.
General Finnegan had a distinguished career in the Army. After a distinguished career in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, General Finnegan returned to West Point to serve as professor and head of the department of law before being appointed the 12th Dean of the Academic Board in 2005, retiring in 2010.
While in the Army, he served a three-year tour in Germany, handled an assignment at the JAG School in Charlottesville and participated with the XIII Airborne Corps in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served in the Persian Gulf in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield and was decorated with several commendations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medal.
During his tenure as the Dean of the Academic Board, West Point was the top-ranked public institution for higher education by Forbes.
General Finnegan also served as Longwood University’s 25th president, capturing the hearts of students and helping usher in a new era for Longwood athletics. His rapport with Longwood students ran deep. With his ever-present smile and participation in campus traditions like Color Wars—where he wasn’t afraid to stand in the middle of a scrum of hundreds of students and emerge doused in green and red paint—he became a beloved figure at the university despite his brief tenure as president. An ebullient supporter of Longwood athletics, President Finnegan was a staple at Lancer games and matches, often painting his face blue and cheering wildly alongside the Lancer Lunatics at basketball games.
While at Longwood, President Finnegan championed efforts to help Longwood reach greater heights in all phases, from setting in motion an academic master plan to championing efforts to expand international educational opportunities for students. He also led the university’s transition from Division 1 independent status into the Big South Conference.
Patrick claimed to be an ordinary man living an extraordinary life. In this regard, he was wrong. He was truly an extraordinary man. Life will go on, but it will never be as much fun.
Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time TBD. The family requests donations to Wounded Warriors Project in lieu of flowers.
Bliley's Funeral Home, Richmond, Virginia
Patrick Finnegan
September 20, 1949 - July 2, 2018
Resided in Midlothian, VA
FINNEGAN, Patrick BRIGADIER GENERAL (R) of Midlothian, VA passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 2, 2018 after suffering a massive coronary. He is survived by his true love, his wife of 47 years, Joan; daughters Katie (Rucker) and Jenna (Bechen); and grandchildren Alyssa, Jack, Patrick, and Connor; and his beloved puppy Rookie.
General Finnegan attended United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in the class of 1971. He then attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School for Government, graduating in 1973 with a master’s degree in public administration. General Finnegan later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia in 1979, serving as an editor of the Law Review and being elected to the Order of the Coif, an academic honor society.
General Finnegan had a distinguished career in the Army. After a distinguished career in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, General Finnegan returned to West Point to serve as professor and head of the department of law before being appointed the 12th Dean of the Academic Board in 2005, retiring in 2010.
While in the Army, he served a three-year tour in Germany, handled an assignment at the JAG School in Charlottesville and participated with the XIII Airborne Corps in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served in the Persian Gulf in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield and was decorated with several commendations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medal.
During his tenure as the Dean of the Academic Board, West Point was the top-ranked public institution for higher education by Forbes.
General Finnegan also served as Longwood University’s 25th president, capturing the hearts of students and helping usher in a new era for Longwood athletics. His rapport with Longwood students ran deep. With his ever-present smile and participation in campus traditions like Color Wars—where he wasn’t afraid to stand in the middle of a scrum of hundreds of students and emerge doused in green and red paint—he became a beloved figure at the university despite his brief tenure as president. An ebullient supporter of Longwood athletics, President Finnegan was a staple at Lancer games and matches, often painting his face blue and cheering wildly alongside the Lancer Lunatics at basketball games.
While at Longwood, President Finnegan championed efforts to help Longwood reach greater heights in all phases, from setting in motion an academic master plan to championing efforts to expand international educational opportunities for students. He also led the university’s transition from Division 1 independent status into the Big South Conference.
Patrick claimed to be an ordinary man living an extraordinary life. In this regard, he was wrong. He was truly an extraordinary man. Life will go on, but it will never be as much fun.
Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time TBD. The family requests donations to Wounded Warriors Project in lieu of flowers.
Bliley's Funeral Home, Richmond, Virginia
September 20, 1949 - July 2, 2018
Resided in Midlothian, VA
FINNEGAN, Patrick BRIGADIER GENERAL (R) of Midlothian, VA passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 2, 2018 after suffering a massive coronary. He is survived by his true love, his wife of 47 years, Joan; daughters Katie (Rucker) and Jenna (Bechen); and grandchildren Alyssa, Jack, Patrick, and Connor; and his beloved puppy Rookie.
General Finnegan attended United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in the class of 1971. He then attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School for Government, graduating in 1973 with a master’s degree in public administration. General Finnegan later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia in 1979, serving as an editor of the Law Review and being elected to the Order of the Coif, an academic honor society.
General Finnegan had a distinguished career in the Army. After a distinguished career in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, General Finnegan returned to West Point to serve as professor and head of the department of law before being appointed the 12th Dean of the Academic Board in 2005, retiring in 2010.
While in the Army, he served a three-year tour in Germany, handled an assignment at the JAG School in Charlottesville and participated with the XIII Airborne Corps in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served in the Persian Gulf in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield and was decorated with several commendations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medal.
During his tenure as the Dean of the Academic Board, West Point was the top-ranked public institution for higher education by Forbes.
General Finnegan also served as Longwood University’s 25th president, capturing the hearts of students and helping usher in a new era for Longwood athletics. His rapport with Longwood students ran deep. With his ever-present smile and participation in campus traditions like Color Wars—where he wasn’t afraid to stand in the middle of a scrum of hundreds of students and emerge doused in green and red paint—he became a beloved figure at the university despite his brief tenure as president. An ebullient supporter of Longwood athletics, President Finnegan was a staple at Lancer games and matches, often painting his face blue and cheering wildly alongside the Lancer Lunatics at basketball games.
While at Longwood, President Finnegan championed efforts to help Longwood reach greater heights in all phases, from setting in motion an academic master plan to championing efforts to expand international educational opportunities for students. He also led the university’s transition from Division 1 independent status into the Big South Conference.
Patrick claimed to be an ordinary man living an extraordinary life. In this regard, he was wrong. He was truly an extraordinary man. Life will go on, but it will never be as much fun.
Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time TBD. The family requests donations to Wounded Warriors Project in lieu of flowers.
Bliley's Funeral Home, Richmond, Virginia
