Kenneth W. Finn

Ken was born on October 30, 1942, to Edna (Kenyon) Finn and Kenneth E. Finn in St. Louis, Missouri. He went home to a household that included an older sister (LaVerne) and grandparents John T. Finn and Bell (Glover) Finn.

Ken attended St. Louis public schools and in his freshman year of high school he met his future wife, Barbara Jo Eaton, in their home room. The partnership of “Barbie & Ken” was born.

Ken attended Washington University in St. Louis with the intention of becoming a dentist. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration largely due to freshman chemistry and a language requirement. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Upon graduation, Ken joined McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis as a computer programmer. A business major in a techie world seemed like a real stretch, but with proper computer training and Ken’s business orientation, it turned out to be a match made in heaven and Ken loved it. Ken was trusted into creating solutions for manufacturing issues dealing with the building of the McDonnell F4 Phantoms. When McDonnell and Douglas merged it was determined that the same solutions could also solve similar problems while manufacturing commercial aircraft and Ken was able to make that technology happen.

In 1983 Ken and Barbara were asked to move to New York to help a startup health care organization named SANUS Corp Health Systems to become operational. This entailed finding the proper software to run the business, modify it to satisfy unique needs, and create an IT environment to operate and maintain the environment. The organization ultimately was sold to New York Life Insurance with a name change to NYLCare and then to Aetna where it was absorbed into their business. ExpressScripts was also spun out and taken public.

Ken and Barbara retired and moved to Naples, Florida in 2001. Ken enjoyed his time with golfing, bridge, and many friends. He also enjoyed traveling especially cruises with Barbara. Along with his wife of 60 years he was an early supporter of the Naples Botanical Garden. He helped found Dogs In the Garden and was the donor for the Finn Dog Walk Entrance at the Garden.

To get away from the Naples summer heat they found Highlands, North Carolina where they owned a home at Highlands Falls CC. When golf got difficult for him, he started playing croquet and became an excellent player of Golf Croquet at Club Pelican Bay in Naples, Florida; Highlands Falls CC; and the National Croquet Center in Palm Beach. He helped develop the croquet program at Highlands Falls CC including expansion of the croquet lawns and pavilion.

Ken was a wonderful husband to Barbara and a good friend to many. His best friend and Emotional Support Animal was his dog, Max.

Instead of flowers, please donate to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida or the Naples Humane Society.

He will be buried in St. Louis, Missouri. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Naples at the Club Pelican Bay where he was a member. www.boppchapel.com