Leonard Matthews Finley II, a retired employee relations manager for Exxon Corp., died June 18 from Alzheimer's disease at Somerford Assisted-Living in Annapolis. He was 87.
Mr. Finley was born and raised in New Orleans, where he was a 1941 graduate of Jesuit High School. His college career at Tulane University was interrupted when he served in the Navy as a seaman from 1943 to 1946.
He earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in chemical engineering from Tulane. He joined Exxon Corp. as a chemical engineer in 1949 and later became manager of employee relations.
Mr. Finley lived in Baton Rouge for 20 years before moving to Severna Park in 1966.
After retiring from Exxon in 1981, he went to work as general manager of Nevamar, an Odenton company that manufactured countertops. He retired for a second time in 1989.
Mr. Finley had been on the board of the Boy Scouts of America, Camp Fire Girls, Salvation Army and the Anne Arundel Athletic Council.
He had been a Junior Achievement adviser, chairman of Boy Scout Troop 758 and president of the Crofton Swim Club.
He also had coached youth sports, including boys' football, and girls' basketball and softball. For more than 18 years, he officiated at college and high school football games. As a tennis and racquetball player, he won many Senior Olympics medals.
Mr. Finley enjoyed watching sports on TV and doing crossword puzzles.
He was a charter communicant of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Crofton, where a Mass of Christian burial was offered June 23.
Surviving are his wife of 59 years, the former Sallye Wyatt; four sons, Leonard M. Finley III of Odenton, Andrew W. Finley of Potomac, Michael Finley of Catonsville and Dr. Patrick Finley of Columbia; two daughters, Dr. Diane Finley of Odenton and Dr. Margaret Finley of Indianapolis; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.