MONTREAL — Bernard Julius Finestone, a severely wounded World War II veteran who went on to become a leader in the Jewish community and active member of Montreal’s business, political and civic life, died at age 92 on May 22.
“BJ, as we knew him, was bigger than life,” said Stephen Lipper, a longtime friend, “always a military man whose style was dictatorial but whose smile and friendship could warm anyone. BJ loved his family, he loved Canada and he loved Israel. He fought on and off the battlefield for a better world.”
Born in Sacramento, Calif., in 1920 to Canadian parents, Finestone was brought to Montreal by his family when he was 10 months old.
His father, Ab Finestone, had served as a sergeant in World War I in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and, at his urging, the younger Finestone joined the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps when he entered McGill University in 1937 to study economics.
Finestone recalled it was not a popular move among his fellow students. “[T]he peaceniks were controlling everything… I had joined the McGill Daily as a reporter, and everything was peace, peace, peace, and against the war… I said, ‘Dad, everybody will laugh at me. It’s not a very smart thing to do.’”
Immediately after graduating in 1941 as a gold medallist with a bachelor of commerce degree, Finestone enlisted in the army. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant and was posted to the 9th Armoured Regiment (British Columbia Dragoons). He served in Canada and then, from September 1941, in England.
He was sent to Italy in October 1943, where he served as a tank squadron commander.
During 1944 he saw intense action on Italy’s Adriatic coast, and later fought, as a captain, in the campaign to free Rome from the Germans.
On May 30, he was struck with almost the full force of an exploding shell and was hospitalized for three years.
In recognition of his distinguished service, the government of France decorated him with the Croix de Guerre.
After the war, Finestone became a chartered insurance broker, establishing Abbey-Finestone Inc. He married Rita Shuchat, sister of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim’s longtime rabbi, Wilfred Shuchat.
Finestone devoted much of his time to the community, serving as president of Canadian Jewish Congress, Quebec region, from 1979 to 1982, and the Jewish General Hospital from 1980 to 1982, as well as president of Jewish Vocational Services and vice-president of the Shaar Hashomayim.
Finestone served as president of the Montreal Port Council and the Montreal Board of Trade in the 1970s.
He was president of the St. Henri-Westmount Progressive Conservative Riding Association and ran unsuccessfully as the party’s candidate.
A strong believer in lifelong learning, he taught insurance courses at McGill from the late 1950s to the early ’80s, and endowed the Bernard J. Finestone Prize in General Insurance there. His sons donated the annual Finestone Economics Prize.
He remained active in the Canadian Forces, achieving the rank of colonel, only retiring at age 87. Until the end of his life, Finestone cut a distinguished figure and often wore his uniform.
He spoke frequently to students about war and his experience, but never glorified it. Rather, he stressed the necessity of defending freedom and warned about the threats that continue to this day.
Longtime friend and writer Joe King said Finestone attended the May 12 launch of his books by the Montreal Jewish Publication Society.
“He arrived nattily dressed, wearing a smart camel’s-hair jacket, but asked me to remove his sunglasses for him.”
He was regretful, however. “‘I can’t drive any more,’ he told me, explaining why he couldn’t come to another meeting, three days later.”
Former PC cabinet minister Gerry Weiner said: “I had been a friend of BJ’s for many years. A great loss, but time to reflect on the contribution of this most remarkable human being. A real mensch.”
Besides his wife of 62 years, Rita, Finestone is survived by sons Paul of Los Angeles and Neil of Beverly Hills, and their families. A third son Brian predeceased him.