Richard Louis Finelli

Richard Louis “Dick” Finelli, age 83 ½, Passed away October 1, 2018, of Annapolis, MD. Dick was born March 28, 1935 in Easton, PA.  He is survived by his wife Carol, sons Michael and Chris, daughter-in-law Kimberly, grandson Samuel, and granddaughter Abby.

Dick was a wrestling champion from Easton, PA recognized as one of the Legends of Easton and Pennsylvania Wrestling, only losing five (5) times in three years of high school.  Dick Finelli won three PA; District XI (11) wrestling championships in different weights while at Easton High School 1950, 1951, 1952, multiple Regional Champion, but failed in two bids for a state PIAA title. See Wikipedia: The Streak (Easton High School). After high school in 1955 he finally won a state title giving Easton its first state YMCA Annual (Open) Tournament crown at 137 pounds. 

He was instrumental in coaching two wrestling champions in the states of Maryland and Washington that later wrestled in NCAA colleges. Dick served as the Treasurer of the Crofton Athletic Council and wrestling coach. During this period he developed a group of local youth champion Freestyle Wrestlers that in 1977 successfully competed in AAU Junior Olympics in Virginia, and Pennsylvania. He coached young athletes such as a young Larry Holmes, Heavyweight Boxing Champion the “The Easton Assassin” at Easton’s St. Anthony’s Youth Center 

Dick was a veteran, U.S. Army, 3^rd Armored, H/S CO 83D Recon BN, Honorable Discharge, May 1955 - May 1957. While in the Army he earned a spot on the Boxing team as a Welterweight; he was one of the Army’s top boxers.

Funeral services to be held at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 1122 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, MD on Friday, October 26, 2018, at 2:30pm.