BELFAST – Joseph Isadore Fineman, 75, an attorney from Philadelphia, died Sunday, May 16, 2004, in Waldo County General Hospital of complications from congestive heart failure. His daughters and other family members were with him. Mr. Fineman had moved to Belfast last July with his beloved Golden Retriever, Woody, after retiring as a lawyer. Mr. Fineman was born Dec. 7, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pa., the youngest of four children of Dora and Morris Fineman. He attended Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Kearney Junior High School and Central High, from which he graduated with honors in 1946 as part of its 186th class. Following high school, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, receiving both an undergraduate bachelor degree as well as a master’s degree in Economics. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he attended Temple University Law School. Mr. Fineman served in the Armed Forces of the United States. He was on active duty in the Army from June 1951 to December 1953. Following that, he joined the Army Reserve as a Commissioned Officer, grade of Captain, in June 1957. He married Frances Jacobs, a native Philadelphia and set up a law practice in Center City, Pa. He joined the firm of Jerome Taylor & Associates, remaining with the firm as a Senior Associate until his retirement in spring 2003. Mr. Fineman was one of the last true Renaissance men – a great-lover of literature, theater and an avid reader. Someone with a deep and abiding love of animals – in particular cats and dogs. He had a steadfast intellectual curiosity, a strong sense of fairness and a compassionate nature. And no one loved to laugh or get people to laugh more than Joe. Mr. Fineman was an amateur trap shooter who was a member of Pine Valley Gun Club in New Jersey. He also enjoyed writing and cooking and attended culinary school in Dieppe, France. He will be most remembered for his wonderful sense of humor and appreciation of the ironies and absurdities in life as well as its great joys. Mr. Fineman is survived by his wife, Frances Fineman; and two daughters, Nina and Carol Fineman. Mr. Fineman is also survived by a brother, Morton Fineman; two nieces, Victoria Brown and Julia Fineman; one nephew, Andrew Fineman, as well as cousins, Dr. Arthur and Lillian Weiss, residents of Little Deer Isle and their children, Linda Weiss of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.; Steven Weiss of Washington, D.C. and Dr. Robert Weiss of Searsport. Donations can be made in his memory to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine or the University of Pennsylvania, Ryan Veterinary Hospital and sent to 3800 Spruce St., Room 172E, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Arrangements are under the care of the Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Ave., Belfast. “He was a man, take him for all in all: I shall not look upon his like again.” Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2.
JOSEPH ISADORE FINEMAN
