Senate Resolution No. 726

BY: Senator BONACIC

CONGRATULATING Annette Finestone upon the occasion
of celebrating her 100th Birthday

WHEREAS, Senior citizens bring a wealth of experience and knowledge
to the increasingly active roles they play in today's society; their
past contributions and future participation are a vital part of, and
valuable asset to, the fabric of community life and activity; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
congratulate Annette Finestone upon the occasion of celebrating her
100th Birthday; and

WHEREAS, Born on March 25, 1917, Annette Chait met and married her
husband of 58 years, the late Maxwell Finestone, in 1953; together the
couple ran her family's business, Chait's Hotel, for more than 25 years;
and

WHEREAS, Upon selling the hotel business in 1978, Annette Chait's
husband found a bag containing rolls of her old film from Japan while
rummaging through old items; she had taken a job in Nagoya, Japan, in
1945, a short time after the bombing of Hiroshima; and

WHEREAS, The Japan that Annette Finestone came upon less than six
months after its destruction and surrender, was entirely foreign from
her own experience growing up on her father's Chait's Hotel property
outside of Accord, New York; and

WHEREAS, These forgotten photos of street scenes capturing the
devastation of 1940s Japan have since been displayed throughout local
art exhibits and inspired Annette Finestone to continue to take
photographs; she attended SUNY Ulster and spent five or six years taking
courses and developing film; and

WHEREAS, Annette Finestone currently resides at the Woodland Pond
Retirement Center in New Paltz, where she recently took part in "One
Billion Rising", a worldwide mass action event intended to mobilize
people to end violence against women; she has been a staunch advocate
all her life for such causes as women's rights and racial equality; and

WHEREAS, Annette Finestone, with her zest for life, has inspired and
enhanced the lives of her family and friends; she is the loving mother
of two daughters, Laura and Lisa, and a son-in-law, David, as well as
the adoring grandmother of her two grandchildren, Eva and Michael; and

WHEREAS, This exceptional centenarian has experienced the incredible
joys and sorrows characteristic of and reserved for those with the
stamina and courage to savor a full life; and

WHEREAS, Annette Finestone has enriched the lives of those around
her through her joyous and sincere love for others and through the
quiescent charm and wisdom which comes only from a fullness of years;
and


WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly
recognize those who have reached such a remarkable age and who have
witnessed and celebrated the innovations, cultural developments and
awesome achievements of this country during the last century, while
themselves contributing to the growth and excellence of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Annette Finestone upon the occasion of celebrating her
100th Birthday; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Annette Finestone.