Lawrence S. Finkelstein, an NIU Political Science professor emeritus and participant to the founding of the United Nations, died on Feb. 13 in Manchester, NH. He was 93.

His career began in the State and Defense departments as well as the UN. Serving in the UN Secretariat from 1946-49, Finkelstein was privy to the disagreements and negotiations among global leaders that threatened but ultimately resulted in the signing of the UN Charter. He moved on to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he served as Director of Studies and Vice President from 1952 – 65. He entered academia in 1966 with stops at Case Western Reserve, Brandeis and Harvard before becoming a professor of Political Science at Northern Illinois University from 1973–95.

A private celebration of life service will be held at a later date. A complete obituary is available online.