Dr. Denis E. Finnegan

Dr. Denis Finnegan died Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Shenandoah Hospice House at Augusta Health in Fishersville, Virginia.

He was born on October 14, 1947, in Bayonne, New Jersey to the late Denis Joseph and Mary Finnegan.

Dr. Finnegan attended South Plainfield High School in New Jersey before continuing his education at Morris Harvey College in West Virginia, now the University of Charleston. He later earned his Ph.D. in speech pathology from the University of Wisconsin.

He began his professional career as a professor of speech pathology, teaching at Middle Tennessee State University and later at James Madison University. Dr. Finnegan went on to establish his own private practice, where he dedicated himself to meeting the needs of both children and older adults with speech and swallowing disorders, with a particular specialization in stroke recovery.

He later joined Sentara Rockingham Memorial Hospital, where he served for more than twenty years. Throughout his career, Dr. Finnegan helped countless patients regain their ability to communicate and swallow following strokes, injuries, illnesses, and other medical conditions. His many years of work in speech pathology reflected a deep commitment to improving the quality of life and independence of those in his care.

Denis is survived by his wife, Gail Lavinia Finnegan; his three children, Kara Irving and her husband, Dave and their children, Finn, Eli, and Estee, Shane Finnegan and his wife, Maggie and their children, Will and Mae, and Erin England and her husband, Josh and their children, Easton, Asher, and Elle; and his siblings, Maureen Davis and her husband, Billy, Kevin Finnegan, and Kathleen Downes and her husband, Michael.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 15, 2026, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Staunton.

A reception will follow immediately in the Parish Hall.