By Mary Gelfand,
It is with great sadness that the Abbey of Hope shares the passing of founding member Arthur Fink. Executive Director and founder Lori Whittemore writes: “Arthur saw and understood the vision of the Abbey of Hope before we were launched. He was more than a founding member; he was present at conception and birth. He provided clarity and structure from the very beginning and did not waiver in his steadfast support of growing interfaith understanding and cooperation until his health took a turn.
Additionally, Arthur provided support and understanding for me over the seven years I have known him. He offered deep listening and an honoring presence whenever I needed him. Arthur was a Quaker. And while Quakers do not recognize formal clergy, Arthur was a chaplain to the core. The activities he engaged in all seemed to be steeped in his reverence and care for all those he encountered and for creation itself. His loss will be felt deeply in the Portland community and by me personally!”
His work with the Abbey was only one of so many ways Arthur manifested his reverence and care for creation. A gifted photographer, he was a beloved part of many communities in addition to the Abbey. He was resident photographer at the Bates Dance Festival for over a decade, hiding behind the camera as he recorded the creative processes inherent in developing any art form. The tens of thousands of photographs he took each season provided dancers and audience with an entrancing view of both the process of creating dance and the final product. Fink described his experiences in photographing the development of a dance as “a deeply spiritual experience,” akin to witnessing the birth of a child.
A longtime resident of Peak’s Island, Arthur and his camera were fixtures at literary and creative events in the greater Portland area. Maine poet Katherine Ferrier shared on his Facebook page, “He was so devoted to the communities he was part of” and loved to be “in the company of artists, makers, and thinkers.”
Arthur was also a consultant, coach, and facilitator, known for asking great questions that brought insight, clarity, and vision. On his website, he explained “my creativity and curiosity lead to insightful commentary and deep questioning, often helping people to see things in new ways.” Asking great questions was one of his many skills. He wrote “great questions require real thinking to answer, and typically expand the world of the questioner and of those that try to answer the question.”
The creativity, compassion, and insight that were characteristic of Arthur Fink will be deeply missed by the Abbey of Hope and all other communities that he touched with his grace. Rest in Peace, Arthur.
Fence photograph by Arthur Fink.