Stephen N. Finkel

Stephen Noah Finkel was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 20, 1943 to Abe and Rose, later moving with his parents and brother Robert Finkel to Glencoe, Illinois, a leafy suburb along the shores of Lake Michigan. He worked as a soda jerk in his father’s pharmacy, a classic institution of the era. His mother was active in local philanthropic work. Steve graduated from one of the nation’s most illustrious public schools, New Trier High School. 

After graduating college with a degree in journalism from Drake University, he worked in the Golden Age of newspapers for the evening edition of the Chicago Tribune. He subsequently joined a transportation company in Chicago as their Communications Manager and later moved to New York City to join REA Express, a worldwide surface and air transportation company as their Advertising Director, developing television, radio, and print programs for the firm. 

It is around this time that Steve met the love of his life, Cheryl Stelter from Queens, NY, knowing one another through media circles in the Big Apple. He often remarked that she was the prettiest lady he had ever gone out with, and he always admired her feisty, independent spirit. They married in 1978 in a small but lively ceremony held in their apartment, surrounded by those they cared about most. Their daughter, Sayde, was born in 1983. 

After REA, Steve opened his own boutique advertising agency on Madison Avenue that thrived for five years before being purchased by one of the nation's largest direct marketing agencies, The Direct Marketing Group, Inc. Serving as their Senior Vice President and Director of Business Development, Steve was responsible for helping to bring in over $40 million in new business, including Bell Atlantic, Nutrisystem Weight Loss Centers, Matchbox Toys, Sitmar Cruises, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Saudia Arabian Airlines, BMW Motorcycles, and Norwegian American Cruises. 

Lured away by the charms of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Steve accepted a position as Senior Vice President of Badillo Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising in San Juan where he headed up their Caribbean and Latin American Division. His time in Puerto Rico was truly magical and filled with horseback riding through the rainforest, weekends spent on Condado Beach, and meandering through Old San Juan. His client experience there included Pepsi Cola, Pizza Hut, Johnson & Johnson, Puerto Rico's Tourism Department, the political campaigns of the People's Democratic Party, Jeep, and the Caribe Hilton Hotel, representing some $90 million in billings. After nearly three decades in the advertising business, Steve moved back to his home in New Jersey before taking a sharp turn to the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York. 

Moving up to rural Delaware County, Steve (with family in tow) purchased a retail business that the family ran for twelve busy and successful years. After selling the store, Steve began his most rewarding position with The Arc of Delaware County in 2005, serving as the organization's Community Programming Director. The organization is a decades-old human services agency that supports over hundreds of children and adults in Delaware County who have a developmental disability. Steve was responsible for coordinating opportunities for program participants to achieve active roles in their community through work, volunteer, and special interest programs. His daughter is most proud of his time directly impacting so many families in the Catskill region. Steve’s humanity, empathy, and kindness shown most brightly knowing he was helping those around him. 

He was an active fly fisherman alongside Cheryl and loved to tend to her many gardens, proud dad to his pug Owen, President of Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity during his Drake days, and zoning board member for the Borough of Matawan, among many other professional affiliations. Always civically engaged, Steve was a proud board member for numerous organizations including the Delaware County Council of the Aging, The Legacy Corps, and the Fairview Public Library. He also supported the Delaware County Historical Association, Middletown Historical Society, the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society, and Trout Unlimited.  

Those who were close with Steve know just how much he loved Cheryl and how proud he was of his daughter Sayde, who resides in New Orleans and is deeply committed to public service, much like her mother and father. 

Steve is survived by family, friends, neighbors, former colleagues, and fraternity brothers that will miss him dearly. He is predeceased by his lovely wife Cheryl, who passed away in April 2013.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Fairview Public Library in Margaretville, NY would be greatly appreciated by the family.

A memorial service will be held Friday November 1, 2024 at 1pm at Hynes Funeral Home, Margaretville, NY. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to Steve’s service. Interment will take place at the Bovina Cemetery.