JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Mark Finucane dedicated nearly three decades to the Johnson City Fire Department, but his influence extended far beyond his firefighting role.

A former All-American runner at ETSU, Finucane is celebrated in the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. He also served as chair for The United Way and the Johnson City Golf Advisory Board, and played a significant role as president of the Up & At ‘Em committee, overseeing the annual Turkey Trot 5k event.

“There’s some people that other people want to be around. And, so he was one of those people,” Johnson City Commissioner Jenny Brock said.

Brock had known Finucane since his days at ETSU and worked with him to create Up & At ‘Em.

“We’re going to miss him so much because not just because of his organization and his ability to make things happen, but because of his attitude, his kindness, his humor,” Brock said. “And just the belief that we could do something bigger than ourselves if we all work together.”

Johnson City Fire Chief David Bell said he brought the same attitude to the fire station.

“We kind of joked around that where he didn’t have children, the fire department, the firefighters, was his children,” Bell said. “And, he took care of that, took us in, basically adopted us all as that and wanted to see us succeed. Like I said, he’s the first person to reach out to you.”

Fondly recalling Finucane as someone deeply committed to safeguarding others, they acknowledge that his support played a crucial role in the current chief’s career advancement.

“Absolutely, him believing in me helped me open my eyes,” Bell said. “He wasn’t the only one, but he was one of the most influential ones. Because he is consistent, always there, trying to push you that a little bit extra each time to show that you could do something.”

Jason Powell worked with and for Finucane at the JCFD since the late 1990s and said his impact on the department will never be forgotten.

“There’s so many new people and folks that have only a few years on the job, and they really have no idea who Mark Finucane is,” Powell said. “But each and every day that they come to work here, they feel his presence because his fingerprints are all over this fire department. He embodies what it means to build the legacy. And you don’t do that in a moment. You do that across a lifetime.”

Powell hopes he knew the impact he had on the department and the men he led.

“At some point, you’ll you’ll be able to look back and see that he was very proud of the fire department when he was here,” Powell said. “He was even more proud…he’s even more proud of us.”

Finucane passed last Sunday after an extended illness. He was 68.

ETSU also released a statement on his passing.

Following his collegiate career, he competed professionally for six years, running across the United States, Europe and Japan. Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Finucane devoted his life to service and his community.

East Tennessee State University