The Society has been shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Don Finch, our former President and a man widely seen as the driving force of the organisation for more than a decade.

Don was President, Vice-President, activities coordinator, and latterly membership secretary. He also played a huge part in the organizing of the annual Highland Games, coordinating many of the events over the years, including the music tents and the British cars display, one of his great passions.

But more than that, Don was a wonderful ambassador, not just for the Society but for the entire Celtic community in the Valley. He worked tirelessly to promote the interests of the CSA and was a much-loved and admired figure by all who came into contact with him.

Everybody in Celtic circles knew Don. He was a gregarious, persuasive, and charming individual whose presence will be sorely missed by us all.

Don was a regular attender at Highland Games and other Scottish events throughout Arizona and in other parts of the US and his native Canada.

In particular he took great pleasure in helping organize the Canmore Highland Games in Alberta.

He had spent his life as a businessman and had worked in Canada, France, and the US. In recent years he had been a mentor with SCORE, a volunteer organization that offers startup help to small businesses.

Don was born in 1945 in Brockville, Ontario. Since his passing, a host of tributes have been posted online. A funeral service was held at Arizona Community Church at which a Scottish musical tribute was paid by Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band.

CSA President David McBee paid a glowing tribute to Don. He said, “I met Don about a dozen years ago at a CSA function at Kierland Commons and liked him immediately.

He was outgoing, welcoming, and very interested in the Society and its growth.

“At his memorial I learned just how big an impact he had through his work with SCORE, helping individuals and small businesses. I knew he was proud of what that group did, and I knew he had risen through the ranks of significant companies to become the CEO of a major player in the food industry. He applied that experience to SCORE and changed the lives of over 3,000 people. Not many of us can compare.

“The Society has lost a great leader and I have lost a true friend. There are ways we can honor Don’s memory by stepping up to fill some of those many large footprints he has left behind, from his church to SCORE to the CSA, and others across multiple countries and continents.”

Iain Warrander, who served with Don on the CSA Board, wrote, “Don was a fellow Canadian from the province of Ontario, where I also grew up.

I met Don through the Caledonian Society and quickly learned that we shared the Clan Duncan heritage. Don was the Caledonian Society board member that persuaded me to become involved with a number of years ago.

“I'm happy and proud that I was able to collaborate with Don on the CSA board and at the Scottish Highland Games. Don's enthusiasm and personal drive were contagious, I never felt that I was working for Don, but always felt that I was working with him. I will miss him every time I think of the CSA and British cars.

Jim Grant, a close friend of Don, said, "I went to his home to view personal items that I might be interested in. Sad to see the remains of an interesting life that was really blessed.

"We were good friends for about six years and to this day I have known maybe five or six men that I could call brother and Don Finch was one. Don, brother, you are sorely missed."

Sandy Bunch, who runs the Canmore Games in Alberta, recalled meeting Don in Alberta several years ago. Don invited him to the Games in Phoenix, arranged a hotel for him to stay, got his great friend Jim Grant to pick him up at the airport, and looked after him throughout the weekend. It was, said Sandy, like receiving the “royal treatment” although he later discovered he was a “volunteered volunteer.”

“Arrangements were made for Don to return to Canmore and return the volunteer favour. Don agreed to come and run the first British Car Show. That first year we only attracted about five cars due to the weather.

“Don being the man he was, was not going to give in, even with Covid. He did the groundwork and with a short trip up here, he put the wheels in motion and made some good contacts.He arrived here a couple of days before the Games, met his helper, and did some more work on the car show and lots of help on other areas of the Games setup. On the day we had 26 vehicles show up and it was a great success, mostly due to Don and his persistent ways.”

Don and his wife Pearl, who has also been a stalwart CSA member, lived in Gilbert for several years. The order of service at his funeral celebration contained a line with which we can all identify. “Don sped through life here on earth at full throttle with insatiable curiosity, recounting mostly true adventures and experiences. Speaking up and speaking out.”