Claremont resident and Pasadena Sandwich Company proprietor SteveFink knew his stuff. He knew sandwiches, he knew the likes and dislikes ofhis regulars and, using family recipes passed down from his parents, he consistently and joyfully delighted patrons with his homemade fare. So certain were his customers that anything he concocted would be delicious, they often left their order in his hands, requesting the “Trust the Cook” special.
But beyond his sandwich savvy and his familiarity with who prefers white, wheat or sourdough, cheddar, provolone or Swiss, Mr. Fink knew the lives andhearts of so many who entered his shop. “He was a very personable guy, andeveryone who came in became a member of the family. He touched so manypeople instantly with that kind of warmth,” said his daughter, Kaytee Fink.
“He had this sensitivity that is sort of rare among men. He opened doors for people to talk about what was really going on. People would go to talk with him at the deli, people who were struggling. It was sort of a safe haven.”
On January 29, 2010, Mr. Fink died at the age of 59.
Born on December 2, 1950, Mr. Fink was a lifelong Californian who grew upin Claremont and attended Oakmont Elementary School until 5th grade whenhis family moved to West Covina. He graduated from high school in 1969, demonstrating throughout his 4 years of study and socializing that he was an excellent athlete. Following high school, he attended CaliforniaStateUniversity, Long Beach.
As a young man, Mr. Fink worked in a number of different restaurants, eventually becoming a business partner in the delicatessen owned by his parents in Anaheim. For several generations, his family had owned and operated restaurants. But before launching the Pasadena Sandwich Company—PSC as it’s fondly called—in the 90s, Mr. Fink celebrated his time as a stay-at-home dad, raising his 4 children and seizing every opportunity to be involved in their lives. Being an active and enthusiastic dad and coachin Claremont AYSO was one of many ways he supported his children’s activities and interests.
“He was often referred to as Mr. Mom,” said his daughter, Kaytee. “Hewas totally super dad. He went on all of our field trips; he coached our soccer teams, and he was such a fun guy in the crowd. He was so much a part of everything. It was such a treat.”
From an early age, one of Mr. Fink’s dreams was to have children and a family, and upon fulfillment of this dream, he devoted himself to the development and happiness of his 3 daughters and one son.
“He was really active and attentive to our growing up process. That was really important to him,” Kaytee said. In 1995, Mr. Fink opened the Pasadena Sandwich Co. and with the combination of his gregarious and kind personality and his deli and sandwich expertise, the business thrived. His children enjoyed building cardboard box forts in the storage area and, when old enough, worked there on weekends and over summer breaks.
For 15 years, he operated the sandwich company and approached his customers with great enthusiasm. He also took pleasure and pride in serving excellent food.
“He would say, ‘Oh! I’ve got this amazing piece of roast beef,’ and he’dget as excited as anyone could imagine,” Kaytee commented. “He’d make whatever he wanted to make and say, ‘I want you to have this,’ and that would make he and his customers excited. Everything was his specialty.”
And though Mr. Fink was warmly sensitive and caring about the personalsituations of his customers, he had an “amazing way of being a smart-ass at the same time,” his daughter shared. “He had this really beautiful balanceof sacred and profane,” she said. When not running his deli, Mr. Fink enjoyed time at the beach. He spent most Sundays at Corona del Mar, not swimming,not surfing, not fishing or sailing or waterskiing. He simply relaxed and soaked up the sun.
In their father’s absence, the Fink children will keep the Pasadena SandwichCo. alive, welcoming with smiles and conversation the familiar, loving faces they’ve come to know and inviting new patrons to join the family at the deli.
Mr. Fink is survived by his children, Meghan Fink, Kaytee Fink, Nicole Finkand Jonathan Fink; his mother, Doris Fink; his sisters, Toni Goodrich and Patti Lassalette; his brother, Michael Fink; and by many nieces and nephews.A memorial service was held on February 6, 2010 at Mama’s in Pasadena.