Local philanthropist Eileen Finkel dies

Eileen B. Finkel, 69, a full time resident of Breckenridge since 1998 and a part time resident for eight years before that died Saturday from complications of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Paul, her daughter and son-in-law, Diana Finkel and Ben Woodbeck, her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Jill Finkel, and her three grandchildren, Phoebe, Beckett and Alix.

Services will be held in Breckenridge at CMC’s Eileen and Paul Finkel Auditorium at 11 a.m. Monday.

Eileen was born and raised in New York City. She graduated Queens College in 1964 and received a master’s degree in education from Hunter College. Before retiring and moving to Breckenridge 14 years ago, Eileen was a school administrator in Texas and, prior to that, a special education teacher in Connecticut, Georgia, Pennsylvania and New York City.

Eileen was a big believer in educational causes, support of the arts and helping the Summit County community. Eileen and Paul accomplished these three objectives through a financial commitment to help fund the auditorium at CMC, which now bears their names, and through the purchase of a piano for the auditorium. The auditorium offers classes, lectures and musical programs for CMC students and Summit County residents and visitors.

Eileen was active in numerous local organizations, including the Summit County Library Board, Synagogue of the Summit, where she was past president, Applause!, where she was also past president, the Breckenridge Music Festival, and CMC’s Peak to Pique Speaker Series.

Through Eileen’s and Paul’s private foundation, F Cubed Foundation, and their donor-advised fund at the Summit Foundation, they supported many other charities, both local and international, including the founding of the Summit Education Foundation’s innovative teaching grants, scholarships for day care through FIRC, and equipping an entire Nepali community with latrines where none existed previously.

Eileen loved to ski on the slopes of Breckenridge right from her home, to usher at and attend NRO and BMF concerts, and to hike in the mountains of Summit County.

Following the service on Monday, she will be buried at Valley Brook Cemetery in Breckenridge. There will a light lunch after the interment at the Imperial Ballroom, which is on the fourth floor at Beaver Run Resort.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Eileen and Paul Finkel Advised Fund at the Summit Foundation or to a charity of your choosing.