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Obituary for John J. Quinlan, Jr.

TROY, NY – John J. Quinlan, Jr., 89, was taken gently to heaven on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy, surrounded by his loving family. A warm and gentle man, John will be remembered for his joy of life, love of family and friends, twinkling blue eyes, and kind-hearted ways. He was his children’s and grandchildren’s greatest hero.

Born on August 22, 1924, John was a lifelong resident of Troy, NY, and was the son of the late Dr. John J. Quinlan, Sr. and Clara Flanigan Quinlan. He was a 1942 graduate of the LaSalle Institute in Troy and attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before his plans were interrupted by his desire to answer his country’s call to serve in the military during World War II.

John was inducted into the Army Air Corps on March 6, 1943 and flew in 29 missions, as a waist gunner and aerial engineer, with the 477th Bomb Group on B-17 aircraft in the air offensive over occupied Europe. He was honorably discharged on November 21, 1945 and was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the American Service Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

Upon his return from the service, John met and married the love of his life, Mary Joan Forner. Together they
moved to Philadelphia where John completed his degree at Temple University. John and his brother William founded and operated Q & Q Electronics in Troy for many years and then later he took employment in the offices of the State Senate until his retirement in July of 1990.

John and Mary enjoyed many wonderful years of retirement devoted to family, whether wintering at the beach in North Carolina, traveling extensively, rooting for grandkids at their sporting events, or visiting with their children’s families. A life-long devotee of the game of golf, John enjoyed countless rounds with his son, sons-in-law, brothers, grandsons and local golf buddies. John was a communicant of Our Lady of Victory Church in Troy and, before its closing, was a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Church since childhood.

John is the much loved father of Jay Quinlan (Mary Ellen) of Delmar, NY, Mary Margaret Kenyon (Regan) of Vero Beach, FL and Patti Murray (Tim) of Brookfield, CT; the cherished grandfather of John Quinlan IV (Jessica), Bryan and Cate Quinlan, Regan Kenyon, Jr. (Winnie), Moriah Rosenblum (Scott), Patrick and Christie Murray and the late Margaret and Ellen Murray; the loving great-grandfather of Isabella, Ava, Brock, Maggie and Jack; the dear brother of Dr. Edward Carl Quinlan (late Mary Lou), Dr. Paul Timothy Quinlan (Judy), Louis Quinlan, Esq. and the late William Quinlan (late Peggy). Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

John’s funeral will be held on Monday at 9:30 AM in Our Lady of Victory Church, 55 North Lake Avenue, Troy, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Reverend Randall Patterson, pastor. A reception will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn immediately following the Mass. The interment, with military honors, will take place at 2 PM in the Gerald B.H. Solomon-Saratoga National Cemetery. Friends are invited to attend and may also visit with John’s family on Sunday from 4 until 7 PM at Our Lady of Victory Church. For those who wish to remember John in a special way, contributions may be made to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144 or to Our Lady of Victory Church, 55 North Lake Avenue, Troy, NY 12180.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John J. Quinlan, Jr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

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Affiliations


Air Medal

American Area Medal

Army Air Corps

Crucifix

Elks Lodge

European-African- Middle Eastern Service Medal

Veterans of Foreign Wars

WWII Victory Medal