Ronald John Finlayson

June 13, 1956-June 5, 2022

Ronald John Finlayson was just shy of his 66th birthday when he suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away on June 5, 2022. Ron grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, the eldest son of Ronald George Finlayson and the late Mary Elizabeth Tully Finlayson. All four of Ron's late grandparents immigrated to the United States as young adults: Ida George Parrott Finlayson from England via Newfoundland; Isaac MacIntosh Finlayson from Nairn, Scotland; Bridget Marie Collins Tully from Galway, Ireland and John Keenan Tully from outside of Dublin, Ireland. Ron is survived by his two daughters, Bridget Marie Finlayson Hill, who was named after Ron's beloved grandmother "Bridie", her husband Barrie, and their two sons Lachlan and Joseph, who live in Wellesbourne Hastings, England, and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Finlayson Gilio-Tenan, who was named after Ron's loving mother, her husband Matt, and their daughter Elsie, who live in Santa Monica, California.

Ron was a 1974 graduate of Lexington High School, where he was a star member of the varsity football and wrestling teams and earned numerous awards at the Massachusetts State and New England levels. Ron continued his football career as a postgraduate at Bridgton Academy and earned a football scholarship to attend and play football at Boston University where he played on both the offensive and defensive lines. Forever after his football career ended, Ron was known to intersperse football metaphors into his conversation.

After BU, Ron worked for the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy in his 1980 presidential campaign, managing campaigns in several state primary elections. He subsequently worked for John Kerry managing his campaign for Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor as well as for other candidates running for state and national office. Ron also worked as legislative aide to Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Murphy and as co-director for Lawyers Alliance for Nuclear Arms Control.

Ron later worked in business development for Zero Stage Capital, Saturn Capital Management and acted as CEO for several start-up and turnaround companies.

The role Ron was most proud of, however, was that of father to his two daughters, Bridget and Lizzie. In Bridget and Lizzie's grade school years, Ron and his family lived on Beacon Hill and spent afternoons skating on Frog Pond and playing frisbee with their dogs on the Boston Common. Ron also enjoyed spending summers at the beach with his girls and their mom, Debbie Long Finlayson. In support of his daughters, Ron was a regular spectator at performing arts and sporting events and volunteered at their schools, including The Chestnut Hill School, Newton Country Day School and The Boston Latin School. Ron's volunteerism continued throughout his lifetime.

"Ronnie", as he was known to his cousins and siblings, is also survived by his sister Maureen Finlayson DeMello, her husband Rich and their children Jonathan and Christopher, his brother, Robert "Bobby" Finlayson, his wife Christine and their children Paula, Michael, James and Kenna, his sister Nancy Finlayson McIntire, her husband Steve and their children Kristin and Katherine, and his sister Christine Finlayson Richards, her husband Mark and their children Steven and Jeffrey.

Ronnie remained close to his aunts, uncles and cousins, including his late godparents, Aunt Helen Patricia "Pat" Tully Farrow and Uncle Roy Farrow and their children Janis Farrow Pochini, Michael Farrow and the late Steven Farrow; his Aunt Ruthie Tully and his late Uncle Billy Tully and their children, the late Jay Tully, Sheila, Marsha, Judy, Mark, Scott, Cynthia and Allison; his Aunt Flo Tully and his late Uncle Tommy Tully, and their children, Diane, Tom, Karen and Susan; his late Uncle Tommy Mernin, his late Uncle Billy Mernin; his Aunt Dorothy "Dot" Finlayson and his late Uncle John Finlayson and their children, Carol, Jackie, Linda, David and Laura, and his late Aunt Beverly and late Uncle Harold Finlayson, and their children Cheryl and Scott.

Ron had many longtime friends, including his close friends Ally Wudyka, Steve Mackey, Andrew Upton, Dave Zisskind, Jim Collins and Rich Fisher.

A lifelong animal lover, Ron would have wanted donations in lieu of flowers be made to Great Dog Rescue New England.

Visiting hours will be held Saturday, June 18 ^th at the Douglass Funeral Home, 51 Worthen Road, Lexington, Massachusetts 02421 from 9:30 to 11:00 in the morning with a memorial service to follow at 11:00. The burial will take place at 12:30 in the afternoon at the Calvary Cemetery, 686 Washington Street, Winchester, Massachusetts.