Thomas Edward Finkenstadt was born in Flushings, New York on May 4, 1956.He passed away on June 9, 2021 of pneumonia with septic shock complicated with heart failure.Tom had been diagnosed with heart failure in December of 2015.We got 5 and a half years with him thanks to his very caring cardiologist, before he was sent home.Tom was diagnosed with 8 herniated discs (hereditary in his family) and has been on disability since 1993 and as time went on this allowed him to continue to pursue his photography artwork.Tom's biggest thrill was doing black and white photography and was in multiple galleries over the years along with overseas awards with his artwork.He was blessed to have met Ansel Adams and Brett Weston and was known on the Monterey coast and the artists there.He was able to recently purchase some Weston artwork and was his pride and joy hanging with his own artwork.He always held true to the art form by using film and a darkroom to develop and print his own images.

Tom and Heather shared a special relationship.Tom took Heather on many photography trips when she was younger as well as an adult.We remember them going to Colorado and to Maui as well as here in Texas for the weekend.Laughing and having a good time and Tom letting Heather take selfies with him using filters he would not have allowed anyone else to do.When Heather was in grade school, Tom came to her class and taught them how to do solar prints.Something that made a huge impression on her class as well as her.Tom always felt Heather had that "eye" for artwork and she certainly does.When Heather met Ronnie, he always called him Pops from the first moment which was very special to Tom.

Tom's love was his photography and he went out last October prior to having a massive heart event and subsequent bypass in January of this year.Unfortunately the heart was too damaged and we only got six additional months with him.Tom was preceded by his father, Charles Finkenstadt and his mother, Vera Hansen Finkenstadt.He is survived by his wife and partner of 32 years, Penny Finkenstadt and his daughter, Heather Laird and Heather's boyfriend Ronnie Neal, Jr., all of whom reside in the DFW area of Texas. There will be a Celebration of Life at his home on Saturday, June 19, 2021 from 12 pm to 5 pm.