One of South Florida’s most ardent proponents of economic growth has passed away.
Michael A. Finney, president and CEO of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, died Sunday of a heart attack, according to Maria Budet, the council’s Chief Marketing Officer.
He was 65 years old at the time.
He had just returned from Israel, where he had joined Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and others to promote the county as a global economic hub, on Friday.
Finney, a father of three and husband to Gina, was appointed to lead the council in 2017, and the Miami Herald said that he “went through a trial by fire” as the chairman of a tri-county effort to attract 50,000 jobs and billions in expenditure from Amazon.
Michael A. Finney death: How did Michael A. Finney die?
The medical incident occurred in his Coconut Grove home early in the morning. Finney was brought to Mercy Hospital, where he eventually died, according to Budet.
The news of Finney’s death shocked the community, especially those who knew him as an energetic and healthy man who rode his scooter to work frequently.
