06/15/2023
It is with heavy heart and great sadness that we post about the sudden, unexpected passing of our dear friend and colleague John Harold Finen III. He passed at his home in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, June 8th at the age of 54. Though he left this world too soon, he lived his life to the fullest and was a great friend to those lucky enough to know him. John was an adventurer, passionate and curious about music, theater, the arts, traveling and seeing all the magnificent sights this world had to offer.
John was born and raised in Brentwood, TN where he developed his love of music and the arts as a member of the band at Brentwood High School. Shortly after receiving his Computer Science and Music degree from Vanderbilt University in 1992, John furthered his passion for Theatrical Arts and moved to New York City. His career spanned 30 years and was marked by his creativity, commitment and focus on excellence. His roles and responsibilities in theater grew over the years working with well-known performers and productions at epic locations and iconic venues in New York including Lincoln Center, New York City Center, The Joyce Theater, The World Science Festival, with incredible artists such as Dave Matthews in Central Park, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, MOMIX, Lewis Black, Fela! The Concert, Blackstar Symphony - The Music of David Bowie and many others.
Internationally John felt at home in almost every country with performances in major theaters around the globe, as well as part of Royal Caribbean and Atlantis Cruise Lines and as the Co-Founder of VACAYA. Whether in Production, Stage Management, Technical Direction, Sound and Video Design, Lighting Design or as a Tour Director, John would navigate the most complicated set of logistical challenges and technical details with innovation and consideration. His skills were highly valued by the artists and professionals with whom he collaborated.
John’s sense of fun and his compassion for others endeared him to friends and family. He was a welcome guest at every table and was a sought-after confidant and mentor. Interested in life’s offering and foreign cultures, John never missed a chance to grab friends and set out on an “off book” adventure. John especially loved the water. He was happiest when he was sailing, boating, rafting, or cruising while basking in the sunlight of some amazing location.
John was preceded in death by his mother Doris Heller Wise and father John Harold Finen, Jr. and is survived by his brother Chris Finen, Stepfather John Wise, and hundreds and hundreds of his chosen family members from across the globe.
A memorial celebration of John’s life is being planned for this fall in New York where he has called home for the past 30 years. Details to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in John’s name to the David R. Williams Music Fund which helps Brentwood High School marching band students with limited financial resources, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS which helps individuals in the entertainment industry with critical health issues, or Camp Brooklyn Fund which provides summer camp experiences for low-income children.
