Patrick Finn Obituary

Former Arboles and Durango resident Patrick Daniel Finn collapsed and died while playing his drums Tuesday, March 15, 2011, in Alfred, N.Y. He was 26. The cause of death is still undetermined.

Known as "Dan the Man," he was born to Denny and Melody Finn on Aug. 16, 1984, at his parents' home in Pine Cove, Calif. He moved with his family to Arboles in 1988, where he was home-schooled. In 2002, he enrolled at the Durango Adult Education Center, where he earned his GED diploma.

Mr. Finn was living in Alfred with his girlfriend, Kathleen Rabe, as she attends Alfred University. He moved to Alfred in August 2010.

He recently began working as the executive chef at The Little Gem Restaurant and Wellsville Creative Arts Center in Wellsville, N.Y.

The position was his lifelong goal after a number of years of study and on-the-job experience in the culinary arts. He worked in several local restaurants over the years including the Upper East Side Deli, Wit's End Guest Ranch and Giuseppi's. Mr. Finn's family said his co-workers and the owner of the Little Gem were so devastated by his sudden and unexpected death that they have temporarily closed the restaurant.

"His passions in life were music, gourmet cooking, BMX bicycle-trick riding, snow boarding, wake boarding and spreading love and happiness everywhere he went," his family wrote.

He studied drumming with Durango resident Steve Dejka and others. He also sang, wrote songs and played guitar and bass.

His last performance in Durango was last summer at the KDUR-FM Beatles Cover Night fundraiser at The Summit Bar, where he played drums with The Finn Family Band.

Mr. Finn lived in Durango for a while and then moved to Austin, Texas, in 2008, with his brother Conner Finn and their band Liquid Revolution. While in Austin, he befriended many other musicians and played both live shows and in recording sessions in a variety of musical styles. His last band project there was called "Noise from 913." He was currently involved in a musical-travel documentary film project called "Imperchorstra" with his brother Conner Finn and their artist friend Rachel Fields.

Mr. Finn is survived by his parents, Denny and Melody Finn, of Arboles; brothers Joshua Finn and Conner Finn, both of Arboles; and one nephew.

Cremation has occurred. No formal service is planned. Friends are invited to visit and reminisce at the Finn house in Arboles.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Daniel Finn Scholarship Fund, Stillwater Foundation, 121 W. 32nd St., Unit E, Durango, CO 81301.