George F. Quinn

George Francis Quinn (1920 – 2016) The husband and father who was always there for his loved ones now resides with our Lord and Savior. George Francis Quinn, of Rye, NH, died of natural causes on November 7 after having led a long and exemplary life of devotion to God, country, his wife and family. His ten children and 25 grandchildren could not have had a better model of reliability and devotion— as husband, father, and provider. His sense of duty and self-discipline were much admired, rarely matched. He was a devout Catholic and an engineer, but managed both identities with a keen sense of humor. George grew up in a time when love was rarely expressed effusively, but his wife and family enjoyed utter confidence in his abiding love— it was evidenced by how he treated every person in his life. He was, it should be stressed, a gentleman. George was born to Frank J. and Genevieve A. (McDermott) Quinn on July 29, 1920 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Both he and older sister, A. Frances Quinn lost their father to cancer in 1931, leaving George to fill, at age 11, the first of a long series of responsible roles. He was a gifted child whose education at St. Augustine's School and Lawrence High School was capped by his being named valedictorian of the class of 1937. This led to a college education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, earned in 1941. On October 31, 1942, George married Evelyn Mae “Linda” Dow, daughter of Halbert and Helen (Snow) Dow of Andover, Massachusetts. The government, recognizing his expertise and talent, recruited George for wartime service on the Manhattan Project in 1942. He performed research at Columbia University’s SAM Laboratory, the Metallurgical Laboratory at the University of Chicago, and the Clinton Laboratories at Oak Ridge, TN. In 1946, George returned to Columbia University as an Instructor while furthering his research and earning a M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. By April 1948, George had joined the recently formed Atomic Energy Commission in Washington, D.C. as an industrial engineer. A steady succession of promotions to positions of increased responsibility led to his appointment as Assistant General Manager for Plans and Production in 1961 and recognition as a leading expert in the production of special nuclear materials. In 1966, the AEC conferred on George Quinn their highest honor, a Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of his outstanding service to the atomic energy programs of the United States. George remained with the AEC until it was dissolved in 1975. George also shouldered heavy responsibilities as patriarch to a large and sprawling family. He and Linda also devoted many years to the goals of Marriage Encounter, where they had significant impact and many treasured friendships. The couple enjoyed trips to visit family and friends and occasional travel to foreign lands. George always enjoyed building projects and problem solving— perfect attributes for an engineer and father of ten. He was without peer solving puzzles, from crosswords to advanced mathematical teasers. A book was always close at hand, and George never stopped learning. Perhaps George’s most difficult challenge, and finest testament to his character, was the years of loving care he gave to his wife, Linda, as she was lost in dementia. Age and infirmity could not deter him from fulfilling this, his highest priority. In short, George Quinn led a laudable life and will be forever missed and honored by those who knew and loved him. Besides his wife, Linda, George is survived by the following children/spouses: Kathleen Quinn Wild of Brookfield, MA David & Betsy Quinn of Frederick, MD Jeffrey & Patricia Quinn of Rye, NH Terry & Doris Quinn of Emmitsburg, MD Mark & Mary Ellen Quinn of Pleasanton, CA Lisa Jackson of Walkersville, MD M. Janine Quinn & David Frolio of Rye, NH Marcia Quinn of Newport, RI F. Maureen Quinn of Deerfield, NH Michael & Sara Quinn of Rye, NH In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to: The Michael Quinn Scholarship Endowment Red Cloud Indian School, Advancement Office 100 Mission Drive Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770 Online Contributions: www.redcloudschool.org A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 AM, Friday, November 18 at St. Theresa Parish, Rye Beach, NH. Interment service at Central Cemetery in Rye, NH will follow Mass. A reception of family and friends will be held in the Parish Center of St. Theresa Parish following the interment service.

George F. Quinn

July 29, 1920 - November 7, 2016