John ‘Jack’ Fink, ‘icon of the Catholic press’ and The Criterion, dies at 92

Criterion staff report

Criterion editor emeritus John F. (Jack) Fink died on July 17 in Indianapolis. He was 92.

A visitation will be held at Leppert Mortuary, 740 E. 86th St., in Indianapolis, from 2-6 p.m. on July 28. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on July 29 at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 7575 Holliday Dr. East, in Indianapolis. Fink will be interred in a crypt in the mausoleum at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery in Indianapolis with his first wife, Marie.

Born on Dec. 17, 1931, in Fort Wayne, Ind., John F. Fink grew up in Huntington, Ind. After studying journalism and graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1953, he served as a lieutenant in the Air Force for two years.

In 1956, he joined the staff of Our Sunday Visitor, a national Catholic publishing company in Huntington, which had been founded by his uncle, Archbishop John F. Noll in 1912.

Fink served in editorial and business capacities at Our Sunday Visitor, including as president and publisher, until he accepted the position of editor of The Criterion, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, in 1984. He served as its editor until he retired in 1996. (Related story: Thank you, Jack, for your tireless commitment to our newspaper)

Fink was active in the Catholic Press Association (CPA) of the United States and Canada, serving as its president from 1973-1975. He also was president of the International Federation of Catholic Press Associations from 1980-1986. In 1981, the CPA gave him its highest award, the St. Francis de Sales Award, for “outstanding contributions to Catholic journalism.”

“Jack was an icon in the Catholic press who served the local, national and international Church faithfully for decades. Even after he ‘retired’ from The Criterion in 1996, his byline remained a staple in our archdiocesan newspaper as he continued to write a weekly column and pen editorials for us for more than two decades,” noted Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, the newspaper’s publisher.

“We are grateful to Jack for his witness, writing and tireless service that benefitted so many of our readers. Eternal rest grant unto Jack, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”

Criterion editor Mike Krokos noted Fink’s service to the Catholic press started in high school and continued after college for more than 70 years.

“It was something Jack was very proud of, his longevity at Our Sunday Visitor and The Criterion,” Krokos said. “I, like so many who work for the Church, admired his longtime commitment to the universal Church. Jack was passionate about using his gifts to evangelize people of faith around the world.” Fink enjoyed travel and visited 72 countries for pleasure or business and all 50 states that comprise the U.S.

Fink’s legacy with The Criterion will continue for years to come. In 2014, through the archdiocesan Catholic Community Foundation, he created the John F. Fink-Criterion Endowment Fund to benefit the continuing education of The Criterion staff.

“The time was right,” said Fink at the time, after he had a unique opportunity in 2013 to donate an IRA distribution without being taxed for the income.

“I’m very much aware of the need for training people so they can make a good contribution to tell the story of the Church,” added Fink. “I thought that would be where I should put the money.”

While at Our Sunday Visitor, Fink founded the OSV Foundation as a charitable foundation. He was a member of the board of Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities from 1977-1984, a board member of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate from 1978-1985, a board member of the International Catholic Organizations Center from 1979-1985, and a member of the communications committee of the U.S. Catholic Conference from 1981-1984.

In Huntington, he was a member of the board and executive committee of the First National Bank, 1965-1985; member of the board of trustees of Huntington College, 1978-1981; president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1966 and 1967; chairman of the United Fund Drive in 1963; president of the United Way, 1973-1974; board member of the YMCA, 1966-1978; and board member of the Huntington Medical Memorial Fund, 1978-1984. The Huntington Chamber of Commerce gave him its highest civic award, Chief of the Flint Springs Tribe, in 1971. He was named Rotarian of the Year in 1980.

Fink served as president of the Indianapolis Serra Club. In 1994, the Notre Dame Club of Indianapolis gave him its award of the year. He was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and a Knight of Malta.

He wrote 48 monthly “Focus on Faith” columns for The Indianapolis Star beginning in 1998 until 2002. The Star also published 86 of his book reviews. He also contributed 38 book reviews to the Catholic magazine St. Anthony Messenger.

Fink was the author of 17 published religious books, including several books on the saints, the doctors of the Church, and the history of the Church, among others. He also edited The Mission and Future of the Catholic Press, a collaborative effort with several of his colleagues.

He was a member of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis, where he served in various capacities. He also volunteered in the Office of the Catholic Chaplain at I.U. Health Methodist Hospital for about 14 years.

He was married for 55 years to Marie (Waldron) Fink, who died in 2010. In 2012, he married Connie Winchester, who survives. He is also survived by seven children: Barbara and Regina Fink; Therese (Steven) Meyerhoff; David, John, Robert and Stephen Fink; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Ann Eckert and Carol Fitzgerald; two brothers, Tom and William Fink; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother James Fink. 

Memorial gifts may be sent to Saint Meinrad Seminary, saintmeinrad.edu, or the Serra Club of Indianapolis, www.serraindy.org. †