Irving Finkel passed away on April 17, 2017. He was 103.

At the age of 22, Finkel joined plumbing supply company, Davis & Warshow. He eventually bought out both owners by the mid-1960s and the company would become one of the premier plumbing distributors in the country.

Finkel was a member of the Board of Directors of both Jobbers Credit Association and the Plumbing Heating Wholesaler Employers Association in New York City. He was also a member of the Board of the American Institute and was involved in the merger of the AI with the CSA, which created the American Supply Association.

Under Finkel, Davis & Warshow became one of the first wholesalers in the nation to computerize its back office operations. He continually upgraded the systems as new technology became available. Realizing that the location in Lower Manhattan would not be able to support substantial growth, he found a location at the intersection of the two major NYC highways in Maspeth, NY. This enables Davis & Warshow to profitably grow for the next four decades. The first was recognized by Supply House Times in 1988 and 2003 as Wholesaler of the Year.