Sheldon Miller, a former Kiwanian who moved from East Meadow to Scottsdale, Ariz., 13 years ago, said that he and his wife, Carol, would often go out to eat with Nelson and Gloria. “He was always willing to go anywhere, to eat anything new to him,” said Miller, 78, who met Finkelman 25 years ago, and stayed in touch after he moved. “… A man of interesting stories, and would help anyone in trouble that he thought needed it.”

Arthur Gianelli, the president and CEO of the NuHealth system, which oversees the Nassau University Medical Center, said that Finkelman was “instrumental” in raising funds for NUMC’s burn center, which provides equipment and staff training for burn care, burn treatment rehabilitation and recreational programs, and public education about burn prevention. “Finkelman was a gentleman, very devoted to making NUMC’s burn center one of the best in the country,” Gianelli said. “We will miss him, his sense of humor and his commitment to having NUMC deliver the best burn care possible to the residents of the region.”