Marvy Alan Finger

Marvy Alan Finger passed away on Saturday, the 22nd of October 2022, at the age of 86, while at home in the comfort of his family. Marvy leaves a legacy as a premiere developer of apartment homes and as a philanthropist in a wide range of fields. He was passionate in his pursuit of perfection in business and generous to the city of Houston where he was born and pursued his life’s work. He was the last of the three legendary Finger brothers, raised by his family in their Riverside Terrace neighborhood. Marvy attended San Jacinto High School where he developed friendships that lasted throughout his life. In 1957, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Civil Engineering and a minor in Business Administration, where he again made friendships that lasted throughout his life.

Marvy began his extraordinary career with a humble beginning. He went to work as an assistant to a small homebuilder who built only a dozen starter homes per year. When the builder became ill, Marvy took over the business and continued for a few years as a successful builder of beginner homes. These early years gave Marvy his first taste of the importance of mastering all of the details of property development, and he often related the story of finding out that the title to the land under his first project was owned by others. An investor offered a solution to the lack of title that included Marvy’s agreement to finish an apartment project to help out the investor in return. The rest is history.

Marvy was modest and private about his success in business and was not one to sing his own praises– but others certainly did. Over the years he has been given many awards. The industry media has labeled him as a “tycoon,” a “true icon,” a “legend” and a “visionary.” Marvy’s own selection of a title for himself was much humbler, “I want to be the best housekeeper in the U.S.”

Marvy lived and breathed the apartment business and worked 24/7. He was extremely proud of the talented people that worked for him and gratefully recognized their contributions to the Company’s long line of successes. Over six decades of work, he mentored and advised countless young managers and developers, imparting his life-long motto of CFIMITYM. He also advised and befriended men and women from all walks of life, and would take anyone’s call if he wasn’t busy.

Over his career, Marvy built 93 apartment projects in eight states with almost 30,000 units. He endeavored to locate every project at the corner of “Main and Main.” His most ambitious project, One Park Place, the beautiful landmark tower in downtown Houston across from Discovery Green, was by no means a safe or obvious choice in 2008. He felt in a city of 5 million people, he could find 347 that would want to live downtown. He was right. One Park Place has been hailed as the catalyst for Houston’s boom in downtown living developments and stands as a tribute to his vision and courage as a developer.

Marvy was an avid and accomplished private pilot. He was an athlete and an outdoorsman who enjoyed a wide variety of activities and sports including skiing, bird-hunting and fly-fishing. He loved to cook and garden and go boating in Galveston Bay. He loved lunches with his many friends and business associates. And as serious as he was in business, he was often funny and had a quick, dry wit.

Personally, Marvy was devoted to learning, studying and reading and was never without a biography or history book underway. He adored classical music. He loved the Houston Symphony and DaCamera of Houston. He supported medicine, especially in his role on the Foundation Board of Methodist Hospital. He enjoyed the theater, both at Stages and at The Alley. He loved walking through Hermann and Memorial Parks and riding his bike through Buffalo Bayou Park and its connecting trails. But his greatest love was in supporting education, be it the Bauer College at UH, Houston Christian University, University of Arizona or Briarwood School. He also created, along with his wife Elaine, The Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship program. This program was based on his belief that a productive work life should be available to all. He and his wife developed and managed this program to help low-income Houston ISD high-school graduates pursue a career through certification or a degree, mentoring them along the way. Marvy characterized this scholarship program as the greatest and most satisfying accomplishment of his life, often getting emotional when he talked about it.

Marvy was a proud Houstonian, secure in his Jewish faith, a principled man, a unique personality, and a thoughtful, generous, loving and caring person.

Marvy was predeceased by his parents Hyman Edward Finger and Bessie Kaplan Finger, his brothers Jerry Elliott Finger and Ronald Jack Finger, and his sister-in-law Nanette Breitenbach Finger. He is survived by his loving wife Elaine Willits Finger, his daughter Jill Jewett and husband Dunham, his son Edward Alan Finger, and his step-son Greg Newton, wife Sallie, and their children Reese and Blake. He is also survived by his grandchildren Ryan Dunham Jewett and wife Brittany Hastings Jewett, Sarah Alison Jewett and fiancé Timothy Sherman Burke, William Kimpton Jewett, and his great-grandson Cary William Jewett. In addition, he is also survived by his nephews Richard, Walter, Jonathan, and Scott Finger and his niece Jan Finger Geniesse.

The Finger family is deeply grateful to Dr. Dale Hamilton for his unwavering care, comfort and friendship. The family also wishes to express special thanks to Kim Whitener, his assistant and right hand, and to Maria Gonzales who also cared for Marvy with special kindness.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Marvy during a visitation from half-past five o'clock until half-past seven o'clock this evening Tuesday, the 25th of October 2022, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half-past eleven o'clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 26th of October 2022, at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard in Houston, where Senior Rabbi David A. Lyon will officiate. (Kindly note: Those unable to attend in-person may join the livestream of the service by visiting his tribute page at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the "Join Livestream" icon in the "Services" section.)

Immediately following, all are invited to join the family for a meal of condolence in the adjacent Wolff-Toomim Hall .

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Congregation Beth Israel Memorial Garden in Houston.

Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are Ryan Jewett, William Jewett, Timothy Burke, Dean Putterman, Stephan Farber, Michael Burgas and Mark Sullivan.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Marvy’s honor may be directed to the charity of one’s choice.

Please visit Mr. Finger's online memorial tribute page at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.