William B. Finnerty

William (Wilhelm) B. Finnerty, of Ringoes, NJ passed away on December 21, following a long battle with cancer. He was born in St. Poelten, Austria on December 22, 1946, to Joseph C. and Eleanore (Hamp) Finnerty. Since his father served in the U.S. Army, the family moved to many locations before settling in South Plainfield, NJ. He attended South Plainfield High School and went on to graduate from Montclair State College in 1969 with a B.A. degree in Social Studies.

His career as a Social Studies teacher spanned 36 years-all of them spent at Bound Brook High School in Bound Brook, NJ. There “Finn”, as he liked to be called, became a much-loved member of the faculty, administration, and athletics departments. During his tenure, he served as Social Studies Department Chair and Assistant Athletic Director; coached 7th-8th Grade Basketball, Freshman Football, JV Girls Basketball and both Boys and Girls JV and Varsity Tennis teams. He was awarded Coach of the Year by The Courier News and Somerset County Teacher of the Year. But his greatest honors were mentoring the many students he taught over the years and being inducted into the Bound Brook High School Hall of Fame in 2016.

When he wasn’t coaching, Bill enjoyed watching vintage movies and cheering on the Vikings NFL football team. Bill was a member of the Flemington Presbyterian Church, Flemington, NJ and formerly Wesley UM Churches in Bloomsburg, PA and South Plainfield, NJ, where he served on Trustees, Property Management, and Finance committees.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Kathleen (Sailar) Finnerty; a daughter Erin Finnerty and her husband, Robert Tait of Oaklyn, NJ; son Sean Finnerty and daughter-in-law, Leslie and their children, Tobias, Greyson, and Kellan of Lambertville, NJ; and brother Joseph T. Finnerty of Monroe Township, NJ; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Michael.

A visitation will be on Friday, January 5, 2024, from 5:00-8:00 PM at the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. A memorial service will be held the following day on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street, Flemington, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to BBHS Alumni Association’s Scholarship Fund, C/O Mr. Alan Beatty, 24 West Franklin Street, Bound Brook, NJ 08805.

Cremation services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit his Tribute Wall at www.holcombefisher.com.