John D. Finzar

January 21, 2018

WATERLOO – John (Jack) D. Finzar, 91, residing at the Seneca Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Waterloo died on Sunday, January 21, 2018. Funeral services will be private. John was born in Geneva and was a life time resident of this area. During his long life he worked at a number of occupations. He enlisted in the Army in 1944 at the age of 17. He served in the Philippines during World War II. He was an auto mechanic and service manager at Carter Phillips Dealership in Geneva, automotive instructor at the GM Training Center in Clarence, NY, service representative for Oldsmobile Division of GM, physics teacher in Flint, MI, and Director of Christian Education at the Hamburg Methodist Church in Hamburg, NY. He was an ordained Methodist Minister, serving both the Chartley Methodist and Rehoboth Methodist Churches in Massachusetts. He was a licensed Marriage Counselor, and served as justice of the Peace in Bristol County, MA. Jack ended his career as a professor on the faculty of General Motors Institute in the Education and Training Development Department. He helped create and taught many management programs used throughout the GM Corporation. Jack was a lifelong musician. As a child he entertained local nursing homes by playing the harmonica. He played trumpet, piano, drums, and his favorite the trombone. During much of his retirement he played with the Big Band “For Dancers Only.” He was a member of the local chapter of Barber shoppers for many years. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Bettie J. Finzar; daughters, Lyn (Joseph) Perry of Waterloo and Beth (Ralph) Pope of Fairfax, VA; granddaughter, Katherine Pope of New York, NY; and five nieces and four nephews. He was predeceased by his sons, John Jr. and Jan R. Finzar.