Tribute to Dr Raymond J. Finch

Raymond J. Finch, DO
by James P Finch, DO

My father was born November 23, 1930 in Danville, Virginia to my grandparents: Raymond Snow Finch (a teacher and minister) and Jane Esther Lakie (a surgical, then private nurse). He would be their only child.

At approximately 8 years of age he experienced a condition called Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease which is a self-limited avascular necrosis of the hip. He would experience bed-rest and crutches for many months.
From pictures we have, he seemed to enjoy cats that were around the home(although by the way held he them during pictures we’re not sure how much they enjoyed him!). He also had a black scotty dog named “Happy”.

The family moved to Lansing when he was about 11 years old and travelled frequently to the village of Williamsburg, MI (just outside of Traverse City) to visit his maternal grandparents who had a 40 acre cherry orchard. Prior to this, his grandfather James Lakie, had a service station in Avoca, Michigan.
My father attended the Lansing Seventh-day Adventist Grade School - on Buffalo Street. He then went to Cedar Lake Academy and graduated in 1948. He continued his studies at Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University), in Berrien Springs, MI and then transferred to Columbia Union College. In the Summer of 1955 while at CUC, he met a certain dynamo, Joan Gardner (who worked in the dean’s office - and was aware of him before he knew her). They were encouraged to date by a friend from Andrews, Ron VanArsdell. It is interesting to note, that while my Dad was an only child; my Mom was the middle child of John and Josephine Gardner’s brood of 9 children from coastal New Bern, North Carolina. My Dad graduated with a BS in business from Colombia in 1956.

Deciding a business career was not to his liking, he returned to Michigan State University to acquire the necessary pre-requisites for a career in the medical field and during this time was an avid golfer. Several years later his interest in golf seemed to have waned and when I asked why, he said, “I played 54 holes in 1 day and haven’t played since”. However, it’s unclear the exact day on which his over-dose on golf occurred!

He considered the possibilities of Optometry and Dental Schools and then became aware of Osteopathic Medical Schools through Dr Jarrett, a physician mentor in town who wrote a letter of recommendation. He was accepted to the Kansas City School of Osteopathic Medicine, in 1960. Between 1955 and 1962, my Dad’s relationship with the fair Joan blossomed and their communication continued long-distance while Mom finished her BS in Medical Technology in California. They were married on July 1, 1962 in Silver Springs, MD, surrounded by family and loved ones. They honeymooned at Niagra Falls and Toronto.They even braved the icy cold waters of Lake Michigan!

After graduation from medical school, he completed a rotating internship at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital. He then chose Radiology as a residency after a tip from friend, Duane Gilkey. This began at Art Centre Hospital in downtown Detroit, and when this hospital closed, he transferred to Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital where he finished his final 2 years. He would train under Dr. David A Kellam (who subsequently trained me more than 30 years later).

My brother Jon David came along June 12, 1963 bringing much joy to their little Berkley home. A second son, Joe was born June 28, 1965 adding more joyous activities. Finally, their daughter [points at self!] was born - a third son, October 24, 1966.

My father worked in a private practice with Paul Fortuna, called Finch and Fortuna, Radiology, in the Detroit area for approximately 6 years. Later they made the decision to move to Lansing, to be closer to family. While my Dad was expecting to sell the house in Berkley, my Mom vehemently opposed this plan. And notified my father that they were not selling. It was subsequently rented for approximately 25 years until Joe and I finished medical school and had started residencies in the Metro Detroit area. Thank goodness my Mom was such a forward-thinker! This little home has served as a haven over the last ten years, first for Joe and Trish when they were first married, and now Victoria and I are the resident newly-weds, and we still think it is a treasure.

Here in Lansing, my Dad practiced at Lansing General Hospital for 4 years until he made the decision to move across the street and open a private office of radiology at 3220 South Pennsylvania Avenue. He specialized in general radiology including plain films (x-rays) of the chest, abdomen and extremities as well as any fluoroscopic study, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and mammography. He recognized that service was paramount and almost never turned away a doctors request, even if it was very close to quitting time. There were more than a few dinners returned to the microwave for re-heating!!

Over time, the practice grew and he decided that instead of renting space, he would prefer to have his own building and choose the layout. He built the office just next door at 3230 South Pennsylvania Avenue and worked for the next 25 years with greatly expanded space. He was a rare breed in Lansing, having a private radiology practice when others were practicing within hospitals. He had developed a network of loyal referring physicians (and patients also), who enjoyed the practicality of the more “home-like” atmosphere of his office and the quick turn around time of his reports in not much more than 24 hours.

All my brothers and I worked at the office at various times of our lives performing jobs that included mowing the lawn, transcription of dictations as well as janitorial services, and running the dark room. It was not unusual for my Mom to also assist in whatever way necessary. He was quite interested in the development of the computer and the first one he obtained was the Commodore 64. He became a somewhat self-taught computer programmer.

My father enjoyed mixing work with pleasure, usually including a continuing medical education conference with nearly all vacations. I recall at least 2 trips to Disney World in Florida, even though I was quite young. Their other biggest vacation was to Hannover, Germany with my Mom for a huge computer fair, in 1989. When they initially arrived they had rented a car and were having some difficult finding their Bed and Breakfast which was in a new subdivision. They stopped a cabbie and asked for directions, and when he replied he would take my Mom and my Dad could follow in his car, he decided they might be better finding it themselves!

My father was an avid photographer and “the camera” was a near constant fixture in our family. He bought us all cameras with various lenses while we were still in high school, thus fostering our own interest in the field. A very happy remembrance of mine was on many a Saturday night, we would break out the slide projector and screen and pop one of the many boxes of “cub-scout” popcorn and enjoy a slide show of whatever we had done recently or wherever we had gone. Hopefully, you have seen some of his handiwork in the back.

In the year 2000, it came to my attention (from my brother Joe) that my Dad had a lump on the back of his leg that he called a “hematoma” or bruise. After much discussion, he decided that it should be investigated further. An MRI showed a suspicious lesion that required surgical work up. When we visited Dr. Irwin an orthopaedic surgeon at Beaumont Hospital in Detroit, he also concluded it needed to be removed immediately. They removed the tumor the next Monday and radiation was to follow because they had to peel the tumor away from his sciatic nerve, the large nerve running in the back of his thigh. It left him quite debilitated because of resultant fibrotic changes and hardening of surrounding tissues. It was during this time that he decided it was time to close his office. This was a difficult period for him because so much of his identity was related to his work. He compensated by continuing to read studies from nursing homes the army recruitment center as well as several urgent care facilities in the area and Ionia State Prison. This helped him to remain professionally engaged.

He and my Mom also purchased a home in Mississippi in view of the gulf coast in 2002. This was near my brother Jon and his wife Andrea. Their plan was to live in perpetual summertime, with Winters in Long Beach and summers in Michigan. Unfortunately, in early 2004, his health declined and they became somewhat “stranded” in Mississippi.

In May of this year, when my wife Victoria and I were visiting for a vacation, and Jon had 2 weeks off, we offered to bring my parents back to Lansing. After all what could be better than travelling under careful guard of 2 physicians and 1 nurse? Two days later, our convoy left for Michigan. While we had some anxiety regarding how a prolonged trip might affect him, he travelled like a champ. No serious issues arose along the way. He recognized that he was coming home. When we asked him to choose a restaurant to go to, to celebrate our arrival in Lansing, he immediately and without hesitation said, “Casa Nova” (which is now Falsetta’s - Casa Nova if you’ve not been, I highly recommend it…..very yummy!). When asked what he would want, another immediate reply, “Cheese Pizza!” Which was his favourite food from there. We had at times been known to order “Double Cheese” which was a bit overkill if you’re familiar with the restaurant. Their regular cheese seems equivalent to what most other places call “double cheese”.

One other remembrance of mine is his penchant for experiencing good food no matter how far the drive. We drove many a time to the Detroit area to go to ‘Mexican Village’ which is by the bridge to Windsor (such as after my graduation ceremony from MSU). He would often look for an excuse to make a trip to Greektown in Detroit. There also was a distinct affinity for Leon’s Potato Salad - this was always a staple food item at any office party or graduation lunch. (In fact - if you’re lucky enough to beat the family to the table, there will be some at the luncheon at the Lansing SDA church!

Despite becoming forgetful in recent times, there was nearly always a spark of life and a twinkle in his clear blue eyes....We loved him, we continue to love him and he will be greatly missed.