Keith Finley, bookstore owner and former publisher of the Peninsula Beacon, died last month, SD News reported. He was 60.
For two decades Finley was the owner of Ocean Beach Books in Ocean Beach, Calif., which sold used, rare, and antiquarian titles. He was also an early publisher of the Peninsula Beacon newspaper in San Diego, Calif., which he and a classmate purchased after they graduated from college.
Not long after buying the newspaper, which at the time was bi-weekly, Finley's co-owner sold his share in the business to Howard Owens, another former classmate. They worked together on the newspaper for years, until Finley eventually sold it to a community newspaper group.
Owens said of Finley: "Keith was a hard-working man dedicated to whatever tasks he took on. He was driven to see a task through. Keith was as dedicated a community journalist as I've ever known."
Doug Brunk, a friend and former classmate of Finley, added: "Keith knew a lot about many things. He was one of the most genuine people. His authenticity really rang through. He couldn't care less about keeping up with the Joneses. He just wanted to enjoy his family and his friends. He was just a dedicated, good guy who was happy with his life and so incredibly proud of his kids. There's a lesson for all of us in that."