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ROBERT EMMETT FINNEGAN (ROB)
Born: Sep 17, 1941
Date of Passing: Dec 23, 2019
Offer Condolences or Memory Make a donation to St. Boniface Hospital Foundation
ROBERT EMMETT FINNEGAN
He is survived by seven grandchildren: Robert (Alana), Kirsten, Alex and Erica Bueckert; Brendan, Jeremey and Emma Leipsic; and three great-grandchildren, Jackson and Ella Bueckert and Ainsely Dyck.
He was predeceased by his father Robert and mother Anne Finnegan of Jersey City, where Rob was born September 17, 1941.
He earned a BA in English (1962) at St. Peter's College in Jersey City and married his high-school sweetheart Joan (née Sears), after receiving his MA in English from Notre Dame University in 1963. Rob and Joan lived in South Bend where he began work at Notre Dame on his PhD in English, while teaching courses at Indiana University as well as Notre Dame, and serving as an Army Reservist (1963 to 1969). After he received his PhD in February 1969, he was deployed to Vietnam as a Captain in the U.S. Army, where he served in the Phoenix Program as a paratrooper in military intelligence, often dropping behind enemy lines for weeks at a time with his South Vietnamese brothers. Receiving the Bronze Star and Commendation Medal for meritorious service, he left the "green world" to drive with a young family across a snow-swept continent to take up a post at the University of Manitoba in January 1971, where he taught Old and Middle English for 45 years, published a critical edition of The Old English Christ and Satan (1977), and produced two dozen scholarly articles on topics ranging from the Junius Manuscript to Chaucer to Medieval Drama to Renaissance poetry to Ernest Hemingway. As a life member of Clare Hall, Cambridge University, he had access to many of the most important manuscripts of the Middle Ages and found an illuminating way to bring illuminated manuscripts into scholarly discussions of postmodernism. While he demanded as much of his students as he did of himself, he was revered by students and colleagues alike. He was a "gentle and benevolent mentor" to all who caught his infectious enthusiasm and shared his love of learning, and a stern figure of conscience to those who failed to realize his unfailing hopes for them. Even then, one colleague writes, "his students adored him," recalling one who wept at his retirement because she could not take another class with him. His efforts as a "raucous," "humorous," and wildly effective teacher brought him many distinctions, including a Certificate of Teaching Excellence from the Students' Union, the Dr. and Mrs. H.H. Saunderson Award for Outstanding Teaching in the University, and the Graduate Students' Association Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, with grateful support from the 16 MA students whose thesis work he had meticulously directed. In every respect, he was worthy of the compliment Chaucer paid to his clerk in The Canterbury Tales: "And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche."
For all his endless labours, he remained a devotee of good living: frequent jaunts around the Mediterranean; skippering of his sailboat the Navigamus from the South to the North basin of Lake Winnipeg; vintage wines; well-crafted automobiles (particularly Jaguars), and huge dogs (not least a St. Bernard named Beowulf). He was a staunch supporter of the Blue Bombers Football Club, an enabler of stimulating conversation and a creator of true conviviality. Indeed, his talent for friendship was boundless. No one who heard his roar of laughter ever failed to be caught up in it. As his former landlord in France responded to news of his death: "Robert, what a wonderful man, such stuff as dreams are made on, with intelligence, humour and an appetite for living rarely surpassed. Now his little life is rounded with a sleep." We shall not see his like again.
The family is grateful to the doctors and staff of the St. Boniface Hospital Cardiac Centre Asper Insitute whose compassionate care over the last three months is deeply appreciated.
A Funeral Mass will be held on January 3, 2020 at 1:00 p.m., at St. Vital Catholic Church, 1629 Pembina Hwy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Boniface Hospital; Cardiac Care. Make a donation to
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 28, 2019
Condolences & Memories (14 entries)
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I just found out about Rob's passing. My sincere condolences for your loss. I have many fond memories or our times spent together. - Posted by: Jan Adaskin (Friend of Joan's and former colleague ) on: May 21, 2022
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I've never had a teacher like him before and I doubt that I will again. I have so many brilliant memories, but I return to this one most often. We were finishing up our work on Hamlet when Dr. Finnegan told us a story about how he had once been in a grocery store, had spotted a cabbage, and had not been able to resist reciting Hamlet's words to Yorick's skull. "Alas, poor Yorick!" he'd belted across the classroom, and insisted he'd done the same in the grocery store. Whenever I'm doing my shopping and spot cabbages, I remember those hours spent learning from one of the best men I've ever known. - Posted by: Amy (Student) on: Apr 19, 2021
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Dearest Kathleen, My heart extends to you and your family, condolences and prayers. Whether near or far, my thoughts are and will be there for you and all. Janet - Posted by: Janet Park (Friend) on: Jan 03, 2020
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Joan and family – sorry to hear of your loss. We wish to express our deepest condolences to you and your family. May you take solace in the memories of a life well lived and a legacy of family that will carry forward for generations. NHS Division, especially your NHS Admin Team. - Posted by: Josee Prevost (Colleague) on: Jan 03, 2020
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Sincere condolences to Joan and the entire family.So very saddened by your great loss.Rob was well liked by his students who always had to say wonderful things about his intellect humour ,humility and his love for life.The Family has wonderful memories to cherish.Robert Rest In Peace. Pona Mohammed (colleague of Joan) from the Vic. - Posted by: Pona Mohammed (Friend) on: Jan 03, 2020
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Our sincerest condolences to Joan, Kathleen, Joan and the rest of the Finnegan clan. We are so sorry to here of your and everybody's loss. We will so miss Robert's visits to the yacht club and to Navigamus. You and Joan were one of the best sailor neighbor's one could hope for. It was indeed our honour to have our boat tied up next to you, Joan and the extended family for all these years. Your appearances always created a level of excitement on the dock at the club. Unfortunately, the excitement of your visits to the boats and Yacht Club shall be greatly missed. We are so happy we were able to share many a glass of wine with you (and Joan) while being thoroughly entertained by your tales of our spent youth. We shall miss you forever. Your friends for many years, Barry and Marlene Prokopetz - Posted by: Barry and Marlene Prokopetz (Family friend) on: Jan 03, 2020
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Joan, Kathleen and family. We were so sad to hear about Rob, and had truly prayed for a healthy recovery. Rob was a beautiful soul, full of life, laughter, stories and intelligence. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend. My Mom will miss him dearly, as will we. We are thankful for knowing him. We have smiles just thinking of the memories, which often included wine. Hugs and Kisses. - Posted by: Karen and Gary (Family Friend) on: Jan 02, 2020
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Sincere condolences Joan to you and your family. I only had the chance to meet Rob a couple of times but his family is his true testament to a life well lived. Remember the good times. Laugh. Cry. Remember. ❤️ - Posted by: Tina Moore (Frind) on: Dec 30, 2019
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Joan and Family, I'm terribly saddened to hear this news. Though I knew Robert only in the later years of his career, it was obvious that he had regularly brought a mead-hall's worth of life and energy to the English department. His convivial presence was an enormous pleasure. I'm especially grateful for the support and friendship he provided me in the early years of my career at the U of M. Dinners with Robert -- and you, Joan -- were utterly delightful and helped make me feel very much at home in Winnipeg. And I will certainly always remember our visit together in Cambridge! You have my deepest sympathy. - Posted by: Glenn Clark (Colleague) on: Dec 29, 2019
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"Eternal rest grant to Robert oh Lord & let perpetual light shine upon him; May he rest in peace." My prayers for you Joan in this difficult time; please call me if there's anything I can do to help. We will miss Robert in & out of the garage with his beautiful Jaguar always clean & elegant. - Posted by: Faye O'Leary (nursing colleague of Robert's widow) on: Dec 29, 2019
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I've known Robert for over thirty years as both a colleague and a friend. He was one of those people who actually did "light up a room" (to use an overused cliché) when he was in it, with his unsurpassed wit, good nature and infectious laughter. He was a marvellous teacher and an accomplished scholar, the kind of professor one always remembered; I was not fortunate enough to have had him as an instructor when I was a graduate student, but wished I had been. He was gracious enough to attend my PhD party, and over the years was very supportive. He will be greatly missed. Sylvia and I would like to offer our deepest condolences to Joan and her family at this sad time. - Posted by: John Anthony Butler (former colleague, friend) on: Dec 29, 2019
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Joan I am so sorry for your loss. Rob was a great support during your work at the VIC and I remember you both laughing about your trips to England. Take care my friend. - Posted by: Sharon (Friend to Joan) on: Dec 28, 2019
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Robert Finnegan was a wonderful instructor who made Chaucer and Beowulf come alive in his classroom. I thoroughly enjoyed all the classes I took with him as an undergraduate and graduate student. I remember taking an Old English language course with him that started off with 30 students but ended up with about 6 survivors. His final exam involved so much translation that he had to give us all extra time. So, there we were, all 6 of us stuck in a little room doing translations and getting punchier and punchier as the hours passed. I think it took us about 4 or 5 hours to finish the exam and we were all giggling by the end. Every so often, he would come to check on us, give us a nod and a smile, and then go away. I will miss him immensely. The world will have a little less light without him in it. - Posted by: Jen Mohammed (Colleague ) on: Dec 28, 2019
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Sincere condolences to Joan, Kathleen and entire family. Heard about his great work and sabbaticals in France and what a great teacher he was. Unfortunately will not be at the funeral as we are presently visiting our son and daughter-in-law in Ottawa. Our thoughts are with you Joan and the family at this difficult time. - Posted by: Jackie Symonds (Registered Nurse and friend) on: Dec 28, 2019