John F. Quinn Sr. Obituary

John F. Quinn Sr., age 89, of Gloucester, MA passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, April 22, 2024. He was the beloved husband of Kathleen "Kathy" (Demetri) Quinn and the son of the late Desmond and Helen (Groden) Quinn.

He was born on October 31, 1934, in Gloucester, MA, raised in Rockport, MA, and graduated from Rockport High School in 1952. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, serving with distinction and receiving the National Defense and Good Conduct Medals. He was stationed at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, during his military service.

After his military service, John graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Criminal Justice. He served 38 years with the Gloucester Police Department, retiring in 1998 as a Lieutenant. John had fond memories of St. Peter's Fiesta and the blessing of the fleet, where he proudly guarded the Cardinal.

John was a dedicated member of his community, serving as an Exalted Ruler and lifetime member of the Gloucester Elks Lodge 892. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

Above all, John's greatest joy was spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was a constant presence at their activities, cheering them on with pride and enthusiasm. His retirement was filled with the joy of watching his family grow and thrive.

Over the years, John and Kathy traveled to many exciting destinations, including Spain, Germany, Hawaii, Italy, and Ireland, often accompanied by their dear friends, the late Ron and Gail Bielicki. They have many fond memories of friends in Aruba and Florida, and their travels created cherished memories and friendships that will be deeply missed.

John is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Kathleen (Demetri) Quinn; John F. Quinn Jr. & his wife Janet of Winter Garden, FL; Retired Gloucester Police Patrolman Michael Quinn Sr. & his wife Debbie of Gloucester, MA; Gloucester Police Detective Thomas Quinn & his wife Diane of Hampton, NH; Kathyann Lamb & her husband Joseph of Westwood, MA; Gloucester Police Lieutenant David Quinn & his wife Mary Beth of Gloucester, MA and Julie Redmond & her husband James of Bartlett, NH and his loving dog Quinn who he enjoyed spending time with.

John is also survived by his many grandchildren; Ryan Quinn & his wife Kat, Danielle Emerald & her husband Eric, Michael Quinn Jr. & his wife Lindsay, Gloucester Firefighter Kyle Quinn, Devin Quinn, Brandon Quinn, Connor Quinn, John Lamb, Michael Lamb & his wife Katherine, Kevin Lamb & his wife Marina, Katherine Lamb & her fiancé Zak Tetreault, Meaghan Collette & her husband Alex, Kacie Quinn, Michelle Quinn, Kevin Redmond, Kelly Rowe & her husband Scott, Christina Redmond, Kara Bartlett Quinn and Jesse Clifford; great-grandchildren Savannah & Olivia Quinn, Caleb & Avery Quinn, Nora Collette, Logan Quinn, Lily & Dominic Emerald, and Jake Rowe; sisters-in-law Betty Betz, Sandra Demetri, and Chris Demetri; brother-in-law Bob Condon; and many special cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his sister Joan (Quinn) Condon, grandsons Justin Quinn and Kevin Quinn, his in-laws Norfie and Sadie (Barbagallo) Demetri, Linda (Demetri) and Ron Pelletier; brothers-in-law Stephen Demetri, Joe Novello, Ralph Bauman, and nephew Michael Condon Quinn.

He will be deeply missed by his loved ones.

The family would like to thank the staff involved in John's care, Dr. Arsenian, Dr. Carabba, Dr. Maguire, Senior Care, Day by Day, Seacoast Nursing Home, Care Dimensions/Kaplan Family Hospice, Aids Cassandra and Laurie, as well as his dog walkers Julia & Jocelyn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's memory to Gloucester. Special Needs Dance, care of Leo Francis, 36 Bond Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.