Friday, May 5, 2023
Remembering Mark Finney, "Coby's Best Friend"
The SUNY Cobleskill family mourns the loss of Mark Finney '84. A recipient of SUNY Cobleskill's Outstanding Student Award his senior year and Outstanding Alumnus in 2018, Mark taught school in Delhi, New York, and then in Little River, South Carolina. Upon his retirement from teaching, he returned to his hometown of Cortland, New York in 2008 and quickly reconnected with his alma mater.
Stopping by the College's booth at the New York State Fair set Mark on a 15-year journey as a member of the Cobleskill Campus Child Care Center Board of Directors and the Alumni Association Board, to which he served in various capacities, including president and secretary.
In recent years, Mark had become synonymous with the College's presence at the State and County Fairs, giving freely of his time to support recruitment efforts. He recruited innumerable students while coordinating fair efforts during the summers of 2014 to 2017.
Over those years, Mark estimated that he volunteered more than 1,200 hours representing the College at these fairs, and many more hours planning, as he truly understood the importance of making the College shine, not only in this community but for New York State and beyond. Mark's always-positive attitude was contagious, as he ensured all the other volunteers felt their shared time was valued and appreciated.
His constant presence is how he became known as "Coby's Best Friend," a nickname affectionately coined by President Marion Terenzio.
"Mark was our best friend and the strongest advocate for our shared mission, vision, and values, taking it upon himself, as a volunteer, to show the world what Coby meant to him and what we stand for as a College," said Dr. Terenzio. "As all friends should be, he was there every time we called on him to run an event or just to be there to help us tell the story of Coby. We called him our greatest cheerleader, but he was just the greatest person and one that we will miss greatly and remember with the widest of smiles."
In acknowledgment of how his representation of SUNY Cobleskill contributes to the greater good, in 2016, Mark was personally recognized by then NYS Fair Agriculture Manager Mary Ellen Chesbro. She said, "We had representation from the Apple Industry, Maple Syrup, Honey, Distilleries and Wineries, Farm Bureau, Taste of NY, and even the NYS Nut Producers. But there was one exhibit that shone above them all, and that was the attractive and inviting SUNY Cobleskill exhibit headed by Mark Finney. Mark was a constant presence that welcomed fairgoers not only to his exhibit but the entire market."
Melissa Struckle ’07 met Mark at the State Fair. They quickly connected over their shared love of ice cream, Syracuse basketball, and being alumni of SUNY Cobleskill.
"Mark was a dear friend to all, someone that radiated positivity and bled Cobleskill orange," said Struckle. "He dedicated countless hours to promoting the College to prospective students and to reminiscing about college memories at alumni gatherings. Mark put his heart into every event he was involved in and every interaction he had, both personally and as a representative of the College he loved so much."
Emiley Purvis '03 met Mark through their service together on the Alumni Association Board. "I was always in awe of his love and dedication to Cobleskill, but also for his years of service to the Special Education community. As an educator, supporter, advocate, friend, and so many more roles, Mark was the type of person we should all strive to be," said Purvis.
"Mark had a personality and an energy about him that just drew you in," said Vice President for Development John J. Zacharek. "Everyone wanted to be around him, and he knew just about everyone on campus and, it seemed, the Town of Cobleskill. His passion for seeing his alma mater do well was unmatched, and the immense efforts he took on showed so many the value of joining the Coby family. He will always be a part of us."
