David H. Finnie ’46

Dave died Apr. 12, 2003 of cancer at his home in New Canaan, Conn. A native of Grosse Pointe, Mich., he graduated from the Hotchkiss School before entering Princeton in 1942. After serving in the Army in Europe, he graduated with honors in 1948 from the School of Public and International Affairs. He subsequently graduated from Yale Law School in 1953.

After beginning a law career at the NYC firm of Donovan Leisure, a Ford Foundation grant allowed him and his wife, Nancy, to live in Beirut for two years where he wrote Desert Enterprise, about the Middle East oil industry. He then joined Mobil Oil Corp. in its Middle East affairs department. Later he moved to London, becoming a senior counsel in Mobil's international division. He wrote several more books, including Shifting Lines in the Sand: Kuwait's Elusive Frontier with Iraq, in 1992.

Retiring some 15 years ago to New Canaan, Dave worked for the local library, Episcopal church, and historical boards.

Nancy, daughter Sarah '78, son Charles '81, and six grandchildren survive. Dave's two brothers, Donald '47 and Robert '51, predeceased him. The class joins the family in mourning a true scholar and gentleman.

The Class of 1946