Yale Drama Award named for Guttenberg native...Christmas gift unlocks a door to the past

By Shelia Tomkins 

Charles Finch of Guttenberg received a gift this past Christmas that honored the acting talent of his late sister and brought her career into sharper focus for the Finch family.

A framed montage containing  a photo of Carol Finch Dye and the history of a prestigious award named in her honor was presented to Charles by his son and daughter-in-law, John and Lisa Finch of Guttenberg. The keepsake tells the story of the Carol Finch Dye Award, presented for 30 years by the Yale School of Drama. 

The Finch family was unaware of the Yale award until a few years ago when some research on Carol Finch's career was done by Jenny Elsinger, sister of Lisa Finch. Elsinger contacted the Yale School of Drama and in due time received a response telling about the history of the award and some of the illustrious recipients.

"I was just flabbergasted," said Charles Finch upon learning about the award. According to the Yale correspondence, the award was presented annually to "a student in acting in recognition of talent and accomplishments as a performer." 

Recipients of the Carol Finch Dye Award included Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Frances McDermond. Other familiar names include Jane Kaczmarek, John Turturro, and Paul and Marcus Giamatti. The award was presented from 1973-2003.

"She must have made an impression at Yale to name an award in her honor," mused her brother. "She had friends there who couldn't say enough about her."

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Carol Finch was born in June 30, 1930, in Guttenberg, the daughter of Julia (Friedlein) and Harold Finch. Younger brother Charles arrived three years later. 

Reflecting on their childhood years, Charles said he was surprised that his sister chose a career in drama. "I always thought of her as a vocalist," he recalls. One memory Charles has during her high school years is listening to her practicing Ave Maria at home,  over and over, singing along to a phonograph. Her persistence and dedication paid off — she ended up with a first place state award. "I knew she was a good vocalist, and she was also good in plays. I just didn't put two and two together," he said with a smile.

After graduating in 1948 from Guttenberg High School, Carol went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama from Drake University in 1952. She attended Yale University School of Drama from 1956-57 on a scholarship. Her husband at the time was enrolled at Yale. 

Carol acted in stock (repertory) theater for numerous years, touring the country and appearing in more than two dozen classic and popular plays. The Finch family still has some of the costumes that she created. 

She also did some radio and TV work and appeared in an off-Broadway play, "Servant of Two Masters." While residing in New York City she became ill, and travelled to the Mayo Clinic where she received a diagnosis of lymphoma cancer.   Periods of remission followed. "She knew she had it, but wanted to keep working," said Charles.

In 1959 she took a job with the Armed Services as the head of entertainment for the USO in Europe. Carol was in Germany almost a year, until she became very ill, and her father flew there to accompany her  back to the States. The cancer subsequently went into remission, and she pursued her acting career for another year. 

When the cancer became aggresive, she was hospitalized in New York City, her parents by her side. Charles vividly recalls his last visit with his sister. He and wife Joanne, and their three children — Cheri, Julie and John — traveled to the hospital there to see her. 

Carol died on June 10, 1962. Her funeral was held at the small church she grew up in — the United Methodist Church in Guttenberg. She is buried in the family plot at the Guttenberg City Cemetery. 

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A duplicate of the framed tribute is on loan and will be available for viewing at the Lockmaster's House Heritage Museum in Guttenberg when it opens for the season.