Willie Laffey Jr., Friend (for all intents and purposes…a nephew)
My family and I are lifelong friends of the Kevin and Debbie McNally family. Needless to say, through the years we have been to more than a few BBQ’s and get-togethers with the whole McNally family. I would say I first met Quinnie sometime in the mid-eighties, and he truly was one of those people who I will never forget.
Favorite Quinnie Memory or Story
I can remember being at a McNally BBQ sometime in the early 90’s and there had to be about 50 people over Kevin & Debbie’s house celebrating some sort of graduation or holiday. As the day turned into night, and the beer and food began to dwindle, I was shooting hoops in the backyard with Kevin’s son Michael. Now this probably annoyed most of the grown-ups, as we were bouncing the ball to no end and at times launching the ball into the picnic table. But before I knew it, Quinnie was challenging Mike and I to play him and Billy O’Rourke in some two-on-two. Needless to say, Quinnie was a pretty good player in his day(and of course he loved to let you know that!!) So there it was, two kids barely in their teens, playing an all out game of 2 on 2 with these two grown men. Now to this day, I swear that we beat those two old farts, but there are always two sides to a story. But that isn’t the point of this story. The point of the story is that while all the other “grown-ups” were trying to get away from us, Quinnie was the first one to join us. He was a kid at heart and if you weren’t looking you would have thought he was the same age as us.
Quinnie confirmed everything i thought about him when i was about 21 years old. I was fresh out of college, and needless to say, didn’t have any experience in the “real world”. Steve and I got to talking one day, and next thing you know he is over my house helping me prepare for an interview that he set up with his company at the time. He set me up with the Human Resources Manager at Mastercard and i ended up spending a good hour up at his building just learning some tricks of the trade. I didn’t end up getting a job there, but it got my foot in the door and gave me some good experience as far as interviewing goes. All i remember thinking was, how awesome is this guy? he has nothing to gain from doing all this for me. But that was just Quinnie’s way, always there to help, always wanted his friends to Succeed. To this day, I am honored just to have known the man.
Every time i saw Quinnie he would make a point to take me to the side and ask how things were. From the day i got accepted to Chaminade HS till the day i got my first real job, he was always interested in how things were. He related to everyone, and knew exactly how to put a smile on everyone’s face. There is nothing I miss more than walking into a McNally function and going straight over to Quinnie and getting that big handshake and usually a sarcastic remark about something!!
Favorite Quinnie Characteristic
His story-telling, his smile, pretty much everything about him.
Final Thoughts and Farewell
One of the best guys you’ll ever meet. I am that much better of a person for having met him, and that is something I will always be grateful for. I miss you Quinnie!!
