Joseph M. Finerty, 90, a retired Federal employee and candidate for President of the United States in 1984, died on December 1, 2015 after a prolonged fight with dementia.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware on May 14, 1925, Mr. Finerty moved to Charleston in 1928 when his father, Martin, was transferred to assist in the construction of the E.I. DuPont Plant in Belle. After completing Sacred Heart Grade School (1938) he attended St. Fidelis College and Seminary in Herman, Pa.
He left school to enlist in the U.S. Navy in November of 1943 and was discharged in May of 1945 after being stationed aboard the battleship, USS Wyoming, for 18 months as an electrician's-mate second class.
Upon discharge Mr. Finerty returned to Charleston and attended Morris Harvey College where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He continued is education at Ohio University receiving his Master's degree.
Joe was a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus for more than 50 years and a member of the American Legion.
He served in the Executive Branch of eight Presidents of the United States and on the administrative staff of two West Virginia governors.
Mr. Finerty was retired from the Washington Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. While at BLS, he held a number of significant positions. He was Acting Chief of the Division of Industry Employment Statistics, and was responsible for directing the Current Employment Statistics program. At the time, the CES Program was a Federal/State cooperative endeavor, which produced monthly National, State and area data on employment, hours and earnings of workers in the non-farm sector. It was the largest survey of its type in the world. Mr. Finerty was also Chief of the Section of Evaluation and Inquiries, and Assistant Chief of the Branch of Field relations. For twelve years, he was the editor of the monthly statistical journal "Employment and Earnings."
Prior to accepting a position in Washington, Mr. Finerty was Chief of Research with the West Virginia Department of Employment Security during the first term of Governor Underwood. In this capacity he also served as the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics' Cooperating Representative for the State of West Virginia.
While living in Washington, D.C., Mr. Finerty attended services regularly at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Upon moving to Maryland, he joined Saint Margaret's parish. There, during the early years of the ecumenical movement, he was a lector and served as an economic consultant to the pastor. After relocating in 1968 to Alexandria, Va., the family joined Saint Louis Church and developed a fond attachment to Saint Lawrence parish which was carved out of the jurisdiction of the St. Louis Church. In 1992 upon returning to Charleston, he renewed his membership at the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, yet retained loose ties with Saint Agnes Church in Kanawha City, where he and his wife, Martha, were married in 1957. He had a fondness for Christ the King Church in Dunbar where his parents had been members. He frequently attended services there with his sisters, Marie and Theresa, in his later life.
Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Mary Finerty, his wife of 58 years, Martha Craig Finerty, and his sister, Marie Elizabeth Stidd.
He is survived by his children, son, Patrick M. Finerty of Los Angles, Calif. and daughter, Karen Finerty Truver (Larry) of Charleston, S.C.; grandson, Daniel J. Truver of Charleston, S.C.; sister Theresa Finerty Haid of Dunbar; and sister-in-law, Mary Craig of Charleston.
The family wishes to sincerely thank all of the employees at SweetBriar Assisted Living, Dunbar for the many kindnesses they showed to our beloved Joe for the past four years he has been in their care. Also, the Visiting Angels who helped care for Joe these last few weeks.
Mass celebrating his life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Christ the King Church, 1504 Grosscup Avenue, Dunbar, with Rev. Father Thomas Kalapurackal officiating and Rev. Mr. Dennis Nesser JLC assisting and homilist. Burial will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Charleston.
The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the church.
Memorial donation can be made to Christ the King Church, 1504 Grosscup Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064 or the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1114 Virginia St. E., Charleston, WV 25301.
Arrangements are in the care of Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.