Obituary of Steven Jeffrey Finkelstein

Steven J. Finkelstein, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on February 21, 2024, one day shy of his 66th birthday after a twelve-year, courageous battle with thyroid cancer.

Steve was born in Brooklyn, New York to Sol and Sylvia Finkelstein. He later moved to Staten Island, New York, where he attended New Dorp High School. He was a proud alumnus of Brooklyn College and George Washington University Law School. He met his wife, Jodi Finkelstein, on a blind date and they were married in 1992. They soon moved to Marlboro, New Jersey, where they welcomed their beloved daughter, Marissa.

Steve had his own law practice on Staten Island and served on various committees, including serving as a past president for the Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association. He found solace and joy in the swing of a golf club, in the melodies of his favorite music, in his successful final Jeopardy answers, in the nostalgia of his favorite films and TV shows, in the sweetness of ice cream, and in the warmth of his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, daughter and his sister, Jane Klein, in addition to many other relatives and friends whose lives he touched.

A celebration of Steve’s life will be held on Monday, February 26, 2024 at the clubhouse of Hominy Hill Golf Course in Colts Neck, New Jersey. The family will welcome visitors at the clubhouse from 1:00pm-5:00pm with a memorial service at 2:00pm. The family will also observe shiva at their home on Monday from 6:30pm-9:00pm and Tuesday from 1:00pm-8:00pm.

During the last few months of Steve’s life, his cancer became a rare and aggressive form of thyroid cancer known as anaplastic thyroid cancer. He continually expressed admiration and appreciation for his team at Memorial Sloan Kettering throughout his cancer journey. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Steve’s name to a charity of your choice or to fund rare cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. https://giving.mskcc.org/rare-cancer