Donald Richard Finberg

November 23, 1931 ~ April 25, 2011
Donald Richard Finberg
(Age 79)
On April 25, 2011, Donald Finberg of McLean, Virginia. Loving husband of Hela B. Finberg; father of Karen A Finberg and Dana J. Finberg; and grandfather of William J. Finberg, Benjamin A. Finberg, and Noah L. Finberg.
He joined the Agency for International Development in 1960, and served in Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal before retiring in 1985 with the rank of Minister-Counselor. In the latter two posts he headed the AID missions. He also served in Argentina and Chile with The Ford Foundation.
Mr. Finberg, who lived in McLean, Virginia, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was educated at Amherst College and Princeton University, where he received his Master's degree in public and international affairs.
Following retirement he served as first President of the Luso (Portuguese) American Development Foundation. He continued his interest in Latin America by serving as Deputy Director of the Pan American Development Foundation and Senior Advisor of the Partners of the Americas. He was a member of the Cosmos Club and Dacor House, and served on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Committee of Virginia and the Potomac River Greenways Coalition.
Contributions may be sent to the Hispanic Committee of Virginia, 5827 Columbia Pike, Suite 200, Falls Church, Virginia 22041.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
(Age 79)
On April 25, 2011, Donald Finberg of McLean, Virginia. Loving husband of Hela B. Finberg; father of Karen A Finberg and Dana J. Finberg; and grandfather of William J. Finberg, Benjamin A. Finberg, and Noah L. Finberg.
He joined the Agency for International Development in 1960, and served in Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal before retiring in 1985 with the rank of Minister-Counselor. In the latter two posts he headed the AID missions. He also served in Argentina and Chile with The Ford Foundation.
Mr. Finberg, who lived in McLean, Virginia, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was educated at Amherst College and Princeton University, where he received his Master's degree in public and international affairs.
Following retirement he served as first President of the Luso (Portuguese) American Development Foundation. He continued his interest in Latin America by serving as Deputy Director of the Pan American Development Foundation and Senior Advisor of the Partners of the Americas. He was a member of the Cosmos Club and Dacor House, and served on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Committee of Virginia and the Potomac River Greenways Coalition.
Contributions may be sent to the Hispanic Committee of Virginia, 5827 Columbia Pike, Suite 200, Falls Church, Virginia 22041.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
My wife Ramona and I first met Don 35 years ago when he was the USAID Mission Director to Peru circa 1974 and when I was with the Executive Management Staff in the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau. He was not only a smart and capable man, but a fine and gracious gentleman as well.
Our thoughts and prayers are with The Finberg Family. Receive our sincere condolences. I worked with him when he worked at Partners of the Americas from 1997 through 1999.
Don was shining after his Princeton studies when he joined the Pentagons Management Intern Program in July 1955. I shared an office with him during our orientation training. During that summer course of conferences and briefings I listened to Dons clear baritone voice — always stimulating the group conversation. Don and I each entered the US Army from that experience in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Don was lucky to get assigned to Germany while I went to South Korea. When we returned to Washington years later we renewed our friendship and have very fond memories of decades together. We know that Hela and family will be sustained by their memories of being with Don. He was a positive influence on many lives and we all will miss him. Helen and Paul Hyman .
We met Don & Hela as young couples on Capitol Hill. Carol and Hela wheeled their little ones together. Don & Hela joined us on boating trips on the Bay, and later Don and Don met periodically for lunches in downtown to discuss our wonderful children and to solve the world’s problems. A fine man with a keen intellect and strong sense of decency, his loss is a great one. Don & Carol
For Hela, Our sympathies and condolences on the death of Don whom for the past few decades we had come to respect as a good neighbor on Divine Street as well as recognize him as a professional career diplomat serving our country. We will miss his cheery attitude as well as his clear enunciation of objectives, personal and professional and we have long recognized how well you two worked as a team. Thank you for being a part of our lives. Bill and Dorothy Thompson
Hela and Family — Deepest condolences to all of you. Don was the first AID Mission Director under whom I served back in Peru in the ’60s. He was always gracious and a fine mentor to a group of sometimes feisty junior officers who abounded in Lima in those years. He will be remembered as one who cared passionately about development. Janet Ballantyne
The Johnson Family wishes you our deepest condolences. I think of you often- every time I look at the beautiful Blue & White pottery you so thoughtfully bought in Portugal for me. My father passed away at Thanksgiving from alzheimer’s disease at the same age as your Don. It is way to young. I hope that your grief will turn quickly to wonderful memories from an adventure filled lifetime. You are in our thoughts and prayers, take care.
Dear Hela and Family: Know that our love and thoughts are with you. We will miss Don’s wonderful humor and friendship. He was Peter’s mentor and inspiration at the Pan American Development Foundation as well as a good friend. Love and hugs, Peter and Hazel
Don was a kind soul who suffered fools gladly. Although his intelligence and education was far superior to the majority of the friends we had (have), excluding Bill Plissner, Don would patiently partake in many of the goings-on the 20 something crowd in DC we cavorted with. His ability to adapt to the situation was remarkable and he did it with aplomb. We are sorry to hear of your loss. The last we saw you and Don was with the Plissners in Stephens City where we had dinner. Lenore called and told us the sad news. Gloria & Bill Shook
We were deeply saddened to learn of your loss. Don was not only a long time colleague, but also a valued friend. Our professional lives followed similar paths, both as directors of US AID programs and in foundation endeavors. His stellar dedication and accomplishments in all of his career attest to his management capabilities and intellectual insights. He will be remembered as the outstanding public servant he chose to be. We look forward to attending the promised memorial service.
With fond and interesting memories of working together to preserve the history of the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID). Ed Chesky
Ben, Michael, Betsy and Susan Crane extend their condolences to Hela, Karen and Dana. We still appreciate all the Finberg family kindnesses to us when we visited with them in the ’70s for the Christmas holidays in Guatemala and Peru and discovered that Don was fun but could be stern when necessary. With love, the Cranes
We are deeply saddened and wish to present our condolences to the family. I feel very fortunate and honored to have had the chance to work with Mr. Finberg at the Luso-American Foundation. He was the first person I met before I joined this organization 25 years ago. I keep a very god memory of his personality – we a just and friendly person. I am very proud to be part of an organization whose first president was Mr. Donald Finberg. Our families became very good friends and he is in our hearts. Paula
On behalf of everyone at Potomac River Greenways Coalition (PRGC) and Fairfax Trails and Streams (FTAS), I wish to express condolences to Don’s family and friends. Don was one of the earliest and most enthusiastic of the founders of both groups, which work to develop local stream valley trails. Don especially loved the Pimmit Run Trail and could always be counted on to chip in when we needed help building the trail. Don served as treasurer for PRGC for more than ten years. We will miss him!
Hela and family We are saddened to learn of Don’s passing. We worked together at the PanAmerican Devleopment Foundation
Our deepest condolences to Hela, Karen, and Dana upon learning of the passing of Don. I still remember Don and my father (Ted) playing tennis in Paraguay and then in Maryland. If memory serves, Don was the better player. Ted, Beth, and family