Memory-John McDonnell
My name is John McDonnell, a neighbor of the Quinns. Katie O’Donoghue sent me a copy of your Memory of Quinnie. I think it is a great idea and I thank you for the opportunity to add our thoughts.
Favorite Quinnie Memory or Story
I always knew Quinnie as Steve so I will remember him that way and I am sure he would want it that way. Although I love the name ‘Quinnie’ and most of his family and friends knew him as Quinnie.
A summer night around 12:30 AM I heard the sound of hammering. It kept up for a minute or so, stopped for 30 seconds and started again. I had to check out the source. So I went outside with a heavy duty flashlight. I could hear the hammering was coming from the Quinn’s home. I was apprehensive fearing someone was trying to break in. I flashed the heavy duty light up and down the Quinn’s driveway. “What’s happening. What’s going on” I shouted loudly. I figured if someone was breaking in they would dart through the back yard to get away. Suddenly I heard the clatter of breaking glass. I flashed my light up to the second . floor. The full pane of one of the windows was completely broken out. Suddenly Steve Quinn put his head out through the shattered window with a big grin on his face. “John” he said. “It’s me, Steve. We were dying of the heat up here and I decided we had to open the window but it was stuck. So I got my hammer to try to pry it loose but I guess my aim is not too good.” We both had a great laugh.
Favorite Quinnie Characteristic
Steve always went out of his way to say ‘Hello’. I live directly across the street from the Quinn’s. So often I would hear Steve say ‘Hello John’. Most of the times Steve was in full view and waving happily but many times I could hear his voice but I could not see him. So I would stare hard and scour his house with my eyes and finally see him leaning over his car washing it and waving at me at the same time. Another time he was up a ladder on the side of his house and waving to me. Yet another time Steve was shoulder high cutting his shrubs and I had to follow the sound of his hedge clipper to spot him….If Steve saw you, you got an “Hello” and a wave.
Memorable Trips, Events, Occasions, etc.
It was fall and Steve was on his lawn raking leaves. “Hello John” he shouted and waved. So I walked across the street to talk with him. He stopped raking leaves and came towards me. We met half way in the middle of the street. Happily no cars were driving up and down.We started to talk and talk and talk. Steve had his rake with him and leaned on it. We still talked. We talked about growing up, about our schools, about our families, about our jobs. Then I realized we were there talking for a long, long time. When we finally said ‘so -long’, we had been talking for 45 minutes.
Final Thoughts and Farewell
We will always remember Kaitlyn’s eulogy for her father. It was beautiful, touching and revealed so much about her wonderful father I did not know. Steve was a loving and devoted husband and father, about the highest attributes one could have. We will long recall Steve’s great smile, happy beaming face, his warmth and sincerity. He is looking down on us.
