Anthony (Tony) Gerrard Finelli

Anthony (Tony) Gerrard Finelli, age 54, of Gainesville, Georgia, passed away Saturday, June 17, 2023 following a brief illness.

Celebration of life service is scheduled for 2:00 pm Monday, June 26, 2023 at Gainesville First United Methodist Church. Inurnment will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Clermont at a later date.

Tony was born September 15, 1968 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Gainesville High School and graduated from Maranatha Christian Academy. He graduated with a BS from Brenau with a dual major in Criminal Justice and Business. He also graduated with his M.S in Information Systems at Southern Polytechnic University. In May of 2023, he completed his Ed.S from the University of Georgia in Workforce Education.

After graduating from Brenau, he worked in Gwinnett County as a Juvenile Probation Officer. Tony along with his wife Stacy lived in France for one year, after which he entered the banking field and worked at various local and Atlanta banks as a financial analyst for over 20 years. During his banking career he graduated from LSU Graduate School of Banking and the Investment Banking Institute. He also gained certification as a PMP (Project Management Professional). After many years in the private sector, Tony wanted to return to public service and was fortunate to get a teaching job as a Computer Science teacher at Cherokee Bluff in February 2020, just before the pandemic. He served as a swim coach and soccer coach during his first year of teaching. During 2022-23, he was at the Hall County Virtual Program of Choice and taught many students online as well as attending schools in person a couple of days a week. He loved teaching and had found his home with VPOC and his Technology Student Association club that he sponsored.

Tony and his family were members of Gainesville First United Methodist Church. At various points in his lifetime, he volunteered as a disaster team member (American Red Cross), School Safety Committee member (Hall County), Gainesville Jaycees (Hall County),Edmonson-Telford Board member, CASA Treasurer (Banks County), Assistant Judo Coach (Boys and Girls Club of Gwinnett) and Certified Soccer Coach (LSA Hall County).

He was very adventurous and completed many triathlons, including multiple half Ironmans and a full Ironman. He enjoyed hiking, mountain biking, motorcycles and traveling. He was most proud of his family and his absence will leave a huge hole in their hearts.

He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Stacy Finelli; daughter, Zoe Finelli, mother, Elizabeth Palda; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wally and Cindy Enzor, mother-in-law, Ginny Enzor and nephews and niece, Will, Jacob and Addison Enzor and aunt, Sarah Waters, and other extended family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in Tony’s memory to one of the following organizations; Gainesville Jaycees, P.O. Box 126 Gainesville, Georgia 30503; Edmonson-Telford Child Advocacy Center, https://etcac.org/donate/; or the Georgia Technology Student Association,  https://www.gatsa.org/support/ .

Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Georgia is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com