Ralph Finneren
Ralph Finneren
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Age: 57
Location:
Giddings Road
northbound side near the General Motors Orion Assembly Plant.
Orion Township , MI
United States
Ralph was riding his bike when he was crashed into by a driver from behind according to this article.
From this this article: According to Rory Finneren, a witness driving about seven car lengths
behind the driver witnessed him drift to the right and saw that the
upcoming collision was about to take place and could do nothing to stop
it.
“The ‘ghost bike’ serves as a memorial and also as a reminder
that cyclists are husbands, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives and
mothers, and they have a legal right to be on the road,” Rory Finneren
said. “Drivers are legally required to give them a safe passing distance
when overtaking a cyclist. The ‘ghost bike’ serves as a reminder that a
special responsibility comes along with operating a 4,000-pound
automobile on the public roadways.”
Rory and Holli are Lake Orion
High School graduates and currently live in Washington, D.C. They
traveled back to their hometown to set up the memorial. Rory Finneren
said he got the idea to put up the “ghost bike” because it’s a tradition
in D.C. to put up these painted-white bikes in memory of bicyclists
killed.
“As a cyclist myself, I always paid special attention to
the ‘ghost bikes’ I saw around D.C. and was intrigued by them,” Rory
Finneren said. “I never thought that I’d be putting one up for my dad.
From: the Clarkston News
Remembered for living life to the fullest'My dad taught us to pursue the things in life we want to do and not worry so much about what other people think.'
Ralph Finneren (click for larger version)
August 03, 2011 - By Joe St. Henry
Review Editor
There
is no doubt Ralph Finneren, a resident of Orion Township since the late
1970s, tackled life with a passion and lived life to the fullest.
Not
only did he enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including sailing on
Lake Orion and bicycling, but was a dedicated GM pipefitter for 30
years before retiring in 2009. He was a well-read history buff and a
current adjunct history professor at Macomb Community College.
(Finneren received a master's degree in Chinese history with a minor in
African History.) In addition to playing the banjo, he tinkered with
cars, owning one of the first Pontiac Fieros ever built. Many summer
weekends were spent with his wife, family and dog Charlie Joe at their
cottage in East Tawas.
Finneren
may have pursued many personal interests, but he always put the needs
of others first said his son Rory, 29. That is how he, his sister
Holli, 24, and mother Judy hope people will remember Finneren, who
passed away last week after a bicycling accident on Giddings Road in
Orion Township. He was 58.
Rory said his father was easy going
and never in a bad mood. In fact, he could not remember even one time
when his dad ever got angry. His fun-loving personality rubbed off on
his children and others, Rory added.
"My dad taught us to pursue
the things in life we want to do and not worry so much about what other
people think," Finneren's son said. "I will never forget that."
In addition to sailing and biking, Finneren took up running and kayaking over the past couple of years.
Rory
said his dad's commitment to a healthy lifestyle helped him improve in
both biking and running. Finneren recently competed in a Lake Orion
Rotary duathlon and cut 12 minutes off his time from last year - a feat
of which he was especially proud.
"My dad inspired my sister and
me to begin competing in triathlons," Rory said. "He was contemplating
giving triathlons a shot next."
His son knows his father would have embraced that challenge like everything else in life - with zeal and passion.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Age: 57
Location:
Giddings Road
northbound side near the General Motors Orion Assembly Plant.
Orion Township , MI
United States
Ralph was riding his bike when he was crashed into by a driver from behind according to this article.
From this this article: According to Rory Finneren, a witness driving about seven car lengths
behind the driver witnessed him drift to the right and saw that the
upcoming collision was about to take place and could do nothing to stop
it.
“The ‘ghost bike’ serves as a memorial and also as a reminder
that cyclists are husbands, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives and
mothers, and they have a legal right to be on the road,” Rory Finneren
said. “Drivers are legally required to give them a safe passing distance
when overtaking a cyclist. The ‘ghost bike’ serves as a reminder that a
special responsibility comes along with operating a 4,000-pound
automobile on the public roadways.”
Rory and Holli are Lake Orion
High School graduates and currently live in Washington, D.C. They
traveled back to their hometown to set up the memorial. Rory Finneren
said he got the idea to put up the “ghost bike” because it’s a tradition
in D.C. to put up these painted-white bikes in memory of bicyclists
killed.
“As a cyclist myself, I always paid special attention to
the ‘ghost bikes’ I saw around D.C. and was intrigued by them,” Rory
Finneren said. “I never thought that I’d be putting one up for my dad.
From: the Clarkston News
Remembered for living life to the fullest'My dad taught us to pursue the things in life we want to do and not worry so much about what other people think.'
Ralph Finneren (click for larger version)
August 03, 2011 - By Joe St. Henry
Review Editor
There
is no doubt Ralph Finneren, a resident of Orion Township since the late
1970s, tackled life with a passion and lived life to the fullest.
Not
only did he enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including sailing on
Lake Orion and bicycling, but was a dedicated GM pipefitter for 30
years before retiring in 2009. He was a well-read history buff and a
current adjunct history professor at Macomb Community College.
(Finneren received a master's degree in Chinese history with a minor in
African History.) In addition to playing the banjo, he tinkered with
cars, owning one of the first Pontiac Fieros ever built. Many summer
weekends were spent with his wife, family and dog Charlie Joe at their
cottage in East Tawas.
Finneren
may have pursued many personal interests, but he always put the needs
of others first said his son Rory, 29. That is how he, his sister
Holli, 24, and mother Judy hope people will remember Finneren, who
passed away last week after a bicycling accident on Giddings Road in
Orion Township. He was 58.
Rory said his father was easy going
and never in a bad mood. In fact, he could not remember even one time
when his dad ever got angry. His fun-loving personality rubbed off on
his children and others, Rory added.
"My dad taught us to pursue
the things in life we want to do and not worry so much about what other
people think," Finneren's son said. "I will never forget that."
In addition to sailing and biking, Finneren took up running and kayaking over the past couple of years.
Rory
said his dad's commitment to a healthy lifestyle helped him improve in
both biking and running. Finneren recently competed in a Lake Orion
Rotary duathlon and cut 12 minutes off his time from last year - a feat
of which he was especially proud.
"My dad inspired my sister and
me to begin competing in triathlons," Rory said. "He was contemplating
giving triathlons a shot next."
His son knows his father would have embraced that challenge like everything else in life - with zeal and passion.