The large American flag was hung from Auburn’s City Hall and the Old Wheeler Bell atop the building tolled Friday as the funeral procession for former Assemblyman Gary Finch passed by.
Speaking on FLX Morning, City Clerk Chuck Mason said Finch was respected by members of both sides of the aisle.
“He was a noble public servant,” Mason said,” and I was often times on the opposite sides of the political campaigns and stuff from Gary and we were always cordial and we became good friends over the years. He never held anything against you. He was always there for us.”
Finch served as trustee for the village of Aurora in 1979. He would then serve as Auburn and Cayuga County’s state assemblyman from 1999-2021.
After a mass at Saint Mary’s Church, Finch was laid to rest at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery.
He died on May fifth at the age of 79.
