Sam Fink has gained fame later in life as a calligrapher who has created illustrated and inscribed editions of historically significant American documents.
But the 95-year-old Great Neck resident considers himself lucky for another reason. He met the love of his life, Adelle, the day after his mother gave him three years to find a wife and move out.
After marrying his wife Adele, they raised two sons while he studied at the National Academy and the Art Students’ League.
For two decades Fink worked as an art director at Young & Rubicam, but left when the company’s culture began to change.
“There was a new chief executive, and new guys and gals had come in,” he said. “It was a dog eat dog world. I lasted five more years and said, ‘I cant work anymore in this atmosphere. And I quit.'”
With his wife working her first ever job, writing copy for a publishing house, Fink kept house and worked on his art.
“She worked there for 14 years,” he said. “I became the house frau. I shopped for the food, I cleaned the floor, and I learned how to cook. I ran the show.”
Fink artistic exploration led to the “Constitution of the United States of America,” was published by Bob Loomis because a friend happened to share an apartment complex with the industry luminary.
It was saved from obscurity by Lena tabori, founder and publisher of Welcome Books, after a successful lunch meeting.
The Constitution of the United States of America” has been reviewed by the New Yorker and the San Francisco Book Review, and featured on NBC’s Sunday Weekend Today and CNN This Morning. The limited edition is on permanent exhibition at The Supreme Court in Scranton, PA, which he released on his 90th birthday in 2006. The book sold 12,000 copies and gained Fink international notice.
“I was a real artist,” he said. “I just lived to do this. I lived to do it without knowing it was going to sell, or be published.”
Since then, works by Fink have been published that include “The Gettysburg Address,” “The Fifty-Six Who Signed,” and “The Declaration of Independence: The Words that Made America,” “The Book of Exodus” and “Give it all, Give it Now.”
The aging artist has reserved his last U.S. exhibition for Temple Beth-El at 5 Old Mill Road in Great Neck, before moving to Jerusalem to be with his son and 11 grandchildren family.
Life did not always come easy for Fink. His son died at only 20-years-old.
His beloved wife died 27 years ago. He has lived alone ever since.
But to spend time with Fink is realize he regrets nothing.
Asked why he never remarried, Fink shared an anecdote.
“Joe Lewis, the nightclub comedian was asked, ‘Would you like to have a chance to live your life again? He said, no. If you work it right, once is enough.”
Fink did it right the first time.
His first love was advertising.
“The first job I had in advertising was a dollar an hour freelance,” he said. “But I had an aim to work for Young & Rubicam the best in the business.”
His passion led to a decades-long career that saw him rise to art department director.
“There was pressure, but the pressure could be handled if you spoke kindly,” he said. “The company headquarters in New York
City was known for its warmth and kindliness. Nobody ever got fired. If we lost an account, the CEO would gather the people together and tell them, ‘don’t worry, there’s money in the bank. Nobody’s going to get fired.'”
By the 60s the business had changed, and the 50-something year old man found he was no longer happy.
So he started his new career.
For more information about Fink, or to purchase his art, email Lena@welcomebooks.com.
