[stevem53]

James C. Finn


Posted: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 8:54 am

James C. Finn

NEWPORT – James C. Finn, 63, of Potter Street, Newport, Rhode Island, died on Monday, February 27, 2012 at Newport Hospital.

Born in Newport, Rhode Island on March 26, 1948, he was the son of the late John F. Finn and Rose (Folsom) Finn.



Mr. Finn was at one time the youngest ham radio operator in Rhode Island. He worked most of his life as an electronics technician, and was an avid collector of vintage radios.

Jim enjoyed ocean travel throughout the Caribbean and to Europe.

Jim was a proud owner of a Triumph sports car and participated in many sports car rallies. He also served as a board member for PARI Independent Living Center. He participated in numerous Parkinson disease seminars. Jim was selected to engage in a study, receiving pig cell implants for Parkinson’s disease. Due to his remarkable recovery he was featured in many scientific journals and was interviewed by Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show.

Jim is survived by his mother, Rose Finn, his partner, Roland Racine, his former wife, Virginia A. Arnold, his brother John D. Finn, and his sister, Jeanne Finn Timpson.

He was predeceased in death by his son, James C. Finn II.

A celebration of his life is to be planned in the near future.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PARI, 500 Prospect Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860

[paula_w]

i only met him once, but he was very friendly and i enjoyed talking to him. Pig cells..what a brave man.

paula

[LindaH]

Originally Posted by paula_w

i only met him once, but he was very friendly and i enjoyed talking to him. Pig cells..what a brave man.

paula

Very sad news.

I also met Jim Finn at a PD conference, and had the chance to talk witih him more at the airport when both of our return flights were delayed for several hours. I also knew him from the Parkinsn list, where he would post updates about his condition after the pig cell transplant. Here are some of them the archives.

http://www.parkinsons-information-ex.../msg00038.html

http://www.parkinsons-information-ex.../msg05564.html

As in many transplant studies, the results were mixed, and the study was eventually halted. But Jim’s participation helped advance the knowledge about cell transplantation for PD . When I met him, his symptoms were returning, Although the pig cells were not a cure, it appears the transplant gave him a number of better years.

Thank you Jim.

linda

[stevem53]

I am a member of Jim's pd support group..He had a bad fall a couple of years ago, and he never and he was nener able to back to the group

Jim e-mailed me the diary of his journey through the life after the transplant..Very nice man