To all of John's family and friends:
Please check this page for updates on the arrangements for John, and also, please feel free to leave a "Comment" at the bottom of a posting for all to see.
We will primarily use this blog to share logistical information as rapidly as possible, but also to come together in our time of grief.
This page will be updated as the arrangements are set.
Take care all...
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John Quinlan
Read and share stories of John - last comment 13 Jun 2010
Other updates and comments - last comment 19 Feb 2009
View and share photos of John
In Lieu of Flowers...A Memorial Education Fund
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John Quinlan
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Stories
- U.S. Army Biographical Sketch
- Story from Asbury Park Press (1 May)
- Story from The Coaster (15 Mar)
- Story from Asbury Park Press (12 Mar)
- Story from The Coaster (8 Mar)
- Story on John's co-pilot
- Story from Military Times
- Story from Maryland Newsline
- Story from The Coast Star (1 Mar)
- Obituary from Asbury Park Press
- Story from The Coast Star (22 Feb)
- Video from WTVF - Nashville
- Video from WKRN - Nashville
- Story from Asbury Park Press
- Story from Baltimore Sun
- Story from WBAL - Baltimore
- Story from Clarksville, TN paper
- Story from USA Today
24 comments:
I am so crushed, angry and devastated, my big brother is gone.I feel so broken. Every breath is painful. I don't know how we will get through this but I know I have such an amazing family and John would have wanted us to stand behind Julie and the girls and be the Quinlan force that they have lost.
Seems that God always take the best ones young and John was an amazing husband, father, son, brother, cousin and friend. We were so lucky to have him for 36 years and have to remember the times we had and not on all the times we will miss with him.
My brother, my best friend, I love you so, I will miss you every second of this life and I know you will be waiting for me on the other side.
Your little sister,
Susan
Today (February 18, 2007) our son John was killed in Afghanistan. He was the father of three great girls, husband of Julie and grandson of my Mother who is 91 years old. We are all morning the loss of John. He was 36 years old, was a career soldier and dedicated to his army mission.
His service to our county included five wars starting as US Marine. He served ten years in the Marines. After Marine boot camp he became an avionics specialist for Harrier jump jets and then switched to being a loadmaster on C130 cargo aircraft. He rose to Sergeant in the Marines. He was dedicated to his jobs and received great satisfaction in his work.
He joined the US Army as a Warrant Office with a plan to enter aviation as a helicopter pilot. He completed his aviation training as Chinook Pilot at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The next assignment was in Fort Hunter Air Field, Georgia as a Chinook pilot in a aviation unit. The next step for John was to become a pilot instructor. The 160th Special Aviation Force from Fort Campbell then recruited John as a pilot.
John candle is snuffed out. But He leaves us four candles with bright flames in the form of his wife Julie and their three children Keely, Maddy and Erin. We will love them for the rest of our lives. They will our remembrance of John, our way of understanding his life through them and providing a way of surviving this tragic loss. Understanding this loss is most likely beyond all of us. But live with it we must for the sake of his family, for our own sake and for this country which nurtures us and provides us with living a good life.
I do not understand why John was taken from us at this time and this place. His passing is more than any of us can accept. I want to know more about what happen to John but this information will not change the outcome. And in the final analysis, the outcome is what we deal with.
We all have to deal with death during our lives. How we deal with death speaks to our character. The stages of death may be define and well known. But each of us has our own method and timing to deal with death. One of our many challenges in life is to explain death to our children. It their eyes in which we see the faith and hope in us and accept our explanation without question. We look to our children for hope and understanding realizing that our understanding is weak.
John was our only son. His death was a deep blow to all us. How we comprehend this is ours to deal with and time will provide more information and explanations. Nothing will be solved but acceptance of his death will become part of our character.
We loved him so much!
I am so sad over what happened to John! I'm especially saddened for Julie, Keely, Madeline and Erin. Please know that all of the sisters and I are praying for John and his family and all who loved him - and will offer Mass up for John this Friday in our convent chapel.
But we know through our faith that death is not the end. God has called John to Himself, and even though we will all miss him SO greatly, he has gone first to where we will all go one day - We know that he now lives with God.
May God, Who is always faithful to His promises, comfort those who because of their great love now mourn.
Love,
Sr. Seraphina Marie of the Blessed Trinity, FDM
(aka-Doris Quinlan)
I don't even know where to begin, it just doesn't seem real - it can't be real...
{{HUGS}} Susan call me if you or Mom and Dad need ANYTHING...
I am so grateful to have shared a day with him on New Year’s Eve. It was spent honoring him and reminiscing of childhood memories together. His remarkable charisma certainly consumed the day. His pride, his honor, his humor and his smile are thoughts that I will cherish as I remember John.
My heart is with you all, Julie, Keely, Maddy, Erin, Uncle Bob, Aunt Kate and Sue. I love you very much and will keep you in my prayers.
Cousin Tracy
Iam overwhelmed with memories of good times i have had with my good friend John. I am lucky to have had a friend who was so devoted to his family and friends.I am saddened by the families lost and all of my love and prayers go to Julie,Keely,Erin,Maddy and the Quinlan family.I have wonderful memories of my good friend John that will always have a special spot in my heart.
Your Friend,
Mindy Coles
(chikie)
Aunt Alice said
As the aunt of Susan and John, I want to tell of one incident. Years ago, I visited the family in either Delaware or Maryland; I think it was Delaware. Susan and John were small children, beautiful children with golden, red hair, pale eyes and tons of freckles. And oh wow, these two had energy. Their dog, Heather, would be tired by 10:00 a.m.
Kate and I drove John and Susan to a farm to choose Halloween pumpkins. Brother and sister ran through a wonderful field covered with hundreds of orange pumpkins that matched their hair. The sky was brilliant blue and cloudless. They ran among the pumpkins, hugging many of them, trying to choose two--the perfect one for each child. Then they turned and ran to us: two gorgeous children whose hair matched the pumpkins, and under that brilliant sky they ran to us with their arms wide open, ready for hugs. Sue and John, the "Velcro twins," filled with affect, ready for hugs and love. That image is forever.
John was all affect. When I would hug him, I felt affection and his readiness for fun.
I shall remember him always with Susan at his side, full of life, beauty, passion, and intelligence.
Rusty and I are very sad. I guess we will be that way the rest of our lives becaues we miss John.
Kia ora koutou - from New Zealand. There is simply no way to convey the profound sense of loss we feel as a result of John's untimely death in Afghanistan. There was talk on the news here, then a short and concise article in the Monday paper (your Sunday) and then - the phonecall from Alice on Monday morning.
How I wish I could be with you to laugh and cry over John's remarkable life. I think we all know it was a special privilege to spend even a little while with John. He was a slap-happy kiddo following his freckles around until he turned into one of the most tightly focussed men around.
The students of Whitireia Community Polytechnic Art, the staff and I all mourn this terrible death and loss. We pray for comfort from Te Atua to pass over the whole family and hope that your burdons will be carried well and then lifted.
Ki te whanaunga, kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui tatou katoa. E Hone - haere, haere, haere atu ra. (To the whole family - be strong, caring and big-hearted. And John, farewell forever - forever with God.)
Auntie Annie
I have worked with John's aunt and Kate's sister Alice for four years. Alice has shared her pictures of Kate and her family with me. Through these pictures I have watched John, his family, and the rest the of the Quinlan clan grow together.
This is a very tragic thing that has happened to John and his family. John is my hero because he was a patriot. He died for his country.
To Julie, Keely, Maddy, Erin, Kate, Bob, Susan, Greg, Olivia, and William my prayers are with you in your time of pain and grief.
Maria Printz
Dear Susan,
Again I am so sorry, and think about what your facing, along with your family...I can only say again how sad i am for you. I have looked at John's pictures, and he seemed so full of life, his smile says...he was such a nice guy. I know how much you will miss him. I am so sorry.
Cindy
Me and my sons were driving in the car and Benjamin asked, "Mommy what is Heaven like and which is better Heaven or Here?" As tears filled my eyes I said, "Ben I do not know what Heaven is like... What I know to be true is that Heaven feels like a hug and a kiss from Mommy and Daddy...that it is like the feeling you get when you laugh at a silly joke or how you feel when Daddy comes home." I paused, then told him, "I do not know which is better. All I know is that Heaven is the place you were before you were born and that it is filled with love and joy... And, Here, now, with each other, we have love and joy, hugs and kisses."
They were silent for a moment then Jack said, "Boy it sure is sad that cousin John died, but, I bet Nanny is making him, Pop Pop and Freddy our fish some pasta."
"Yes Jack I'm sure she is."
We grew up together sharing times and celebrations. Although the years and life have seperated us physically, the connection of our hearts and our love never diminishes. We are family a part of each other now and always.
Aunt Kate and Uncle Bobby thank you for bringing me into your love and sharing John with me. I share the gift of his life with my boys through our love, my stories and mostly within our laghter and joy.
My love to you,
Judi
The news of John’s passing was a life altering moment for all of us who ever were lucky enough to encounter and befriend this gentle giant. John was one of my best friends as a teenager growing up in Baltimore and I am crushed by the news of his loss.
When we were younger, every day we spent together was about adventure… And each adventure had it’s potential consequences for sure…
Let’s build a snowboard jump off the back of the house (Sorry Mr. and Mrs. Quinlan)
Let’s sneak downtown and make fun of those break-dancers…
Let’s build a bike jump through those trees…
Let’s play civil engineer and build a dam that could flood the neighborhood… (Sorry neighbors)
Hey let’s start break-dancing ourselves… (Sorry mom)
Let’s jump off that bridge…
Let’s help the neighbor rebuild his old Range Rover and jump it over that river…
Let’s build a bonfire in those woods…
Let’s drive up that hill see how far we can tip the horizon gauge on the Tercel…(Sorry again Mr and Mrs Quinlan!)
And looking back it made me realize a few things…
Once you have even tasted adventure and have lived through a few even not-so-extraordinary experiences…It’s hard to sit back and live an ordinary life. And I knew when John joined the service and started his honorable new path that he was just taking our teenaged mis-adventures to a whole new level… He made us all proud as hell and will be missed more than he will ever know. Ride on brother, ride on...
Ed Russell
I still hasn't sunk in yet that our cousin, brother, grandson, uncle, father and husband John has passed. I mostly feel anger that he is gone and we can no longer say goodbye but since finding out on Sunday, I have also thought of all the good times that we have shared.
I wanted to start off by sharing a classic John story. Aunt Kate would remember this one.
I was visiting John one summer in Bradley Beach and we went to a house party in Ocean Grove on a Saturday night in his white Toyota truck (I'm sure everyone remembers it). Of course before we got to the party we had to load up on beer! At the party, we had lots of laughs and told lots of stories and some beer before driving back to his house @ 11pm. Aunt Kate made sure John drove home before then.
As John and I walked quietly through the back door, Aunt Kate was waiting for us in the kitchen to ask us how the party went. John tried to convince her that we needed to go to another party to bring the rest of the beer to but Aunt Kate smelled beer on our breaths and told us that driving was out of the question. We also tried the angle that it started to rain pretty hard and that we would get all wet so we needed to take John’s truck but it didn’t work.
John finally convinced her that if we rode a couple of BMX bikes while wearing garbage bags with holes cut out for eyes and mouth and carrying the beer on the handle bars that it would be OK to go to the party. How can you argue with that logic? Even Aunt Kate got a chuckle out of two idiots riding in the rain with beer dressed in garbage bags. I am not sure if I ever had more fun than that night.
I’m am sure that everyone has a great John story and hope that you would share your memories with us.
John, I love you and will miss you
Steven
To Julie , Keely, Maddy, and Erin and John's family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I can't even believe it, I keep thinking it has got to be wrong , a mistake , a nightmare. I first met the Quinlan's in 2003. Our girls are in class together, then John was my daughter's soccer coach. His kind smile and encouraging words impacted our daughter and our family. My daughter said "it is going to be hard to start soccer without coach John." My heart sank. If he ment so much to my eight year old I can't imagine the pain that his dear family is going through.. Julie, Keely , Maddy and Erin, thank you for sharing your family with us. You four girls were his life you could tell that from talking with him for five minutes.
Dear Quinlans,
I was saddened when you told me of John's passing. John is An American Hero! Over the last 6 years that we have been out of touch, I thought of John, Sue and all of the Q's often. And when sending Chrsitmas cards I always asked about John.
Dear Mrs. Q & Sue,
Moving to MD was a very life changing experience for me. I was so grateful that Sue gave Thomas R my Swatch Watch to wear. Ha Ha who wears those anymore? Sue we would have never been best friends. And I would have never been touched by so many loving Quinlans, Thank you for that. I also would have never had the pleasure of helping bring Olivia into this world with "Mama Celest". Something I will never forget! Incredilble!!! Mrs. Q I love and admire you, you are a loving, caring and strong woman. The Quinlan girls are so lucky to have you, to help them through this and to tell all of your grandkids about their father and uncle.
I have had the honor of knowing John and Sue growing up and always wanting an older brother, like John. He was the best big brother to a younger sister that I have seen. He was the reason I wanted a boy first. He was so good with you Sue! Ya, Sure you had your share of fights but he truly loved and looked after you. Mrs. Q
you did one hell of a job raising your "gentle giant". Which he truly was. I can remember coming to the beach one summer for a visit and your dining room table had been taken over by legos that John and Eric would put together and they would stay there for days until Mrs. Q got mad and made them break down their lego city. John also would take me out in the ocean on a tube (even though I was Sue's friend) because I didn't like my feet touching the ground. He was such a good guy, every time Mom Mom needed him to come and help with Uncle Richy he would. Uncle Richy got so excited when he saw John. He would make lots of noise and blow kisses to him. John would just smile and be glad to help. He is now up in heaven with Pop Pop having one of the Quinlans Irish Parties.
Julie,
It has been about 10 years since I have seen you, John and Keely (she was a baby). And now you have three beautiful girls. I see John in everyone of them. Cherish every smile, every tear and know that John is watching over the girls.
There is so much I would like to say but will wait 'til we meet again. John has touched so many peoples lives in his short journey. I will never forget, especially his SMILE!
Forever in my thoughts & prayers,
Christine Meyer-Simon
Before I even met John for the first time in 2000 I had heard a lot of great things about him. Susan, Bob and Kate were always talking about him and what he was doing. It was obvious that they thought the world of him and were extremely proud of what a man he had become.
Unfortunately the first few times I was able to get together with John we didn't get to spend much time with each other.
With everything that happened after September 11th it would be a couple of years before I would see John again. Eventually in the summer of 2004 I was able to spend a week with John, Julie and the kids at the Jersey Shore. This is when I really got to know John. Like a lot of other people I was immediately drawn in by his outgoing personality and his great sense of humor. I'm glad I got the chance to hang out with him at the shore. I could tell he really loved the shore and thought of it as home. In no time I felt like John was an old friend. It was as if he was one of the guys I grew up with in my neighborhood.
Over the last couple of years Susan and I spent the Christmas holidays with John and Julie and I got to see what a devoted family man he was too. I'm going to miss his Sunday morning phone calls and his goofy voice mails.
As I look back at my early days with the Quinlan family before I met John I can see why he was always taked about with such love and pride. After getting to know him I felt the same way.
I was reminded of how proud I was of John and how much I loved him earlier this week. After we got the terrible news I went into work to tie up some loose ends before spending time with my wife Susan and the Quinlan family. All the people in my office stopped by to offer their condolences and prayers. As everyone came by my desk they all seemed to know about John and his family. They knew he was a pilot and that he had been in Iraq and Afghanistan and that we had just spent the holidays together.
Then it occured to me that I had told all these people about John and what he had been doing over the last few of years. I was really proud of him. It's hard not to talk about a guy like John. He's one of a kind and I'm going to miss him. I wish we had more time together but I will never forget the time we did have. It was an honor to have know him.
Greg
I still cannot believe that John has gone to heaven yet. As I think back to all of the times that we shared together, I only remember happy, first-class times.
Many of the times that we shared cannot be talked about, but I want to briefly share just a few of the many memories that came flooding back to me this week.
Some of them are:
Stealing beer in Delaware
Keeping “The Bum” company at the Avon shore house
Eating fresh donuts at 5 AM that grandpa had just bought
Body surfing at the jersey shore
Jumping into Shark River
Freestyling at the blue ramp
Riding BMX’s throughout Monmouth County
Cousin sleep over’s at Uncle Larry’s (he had to fumigate after we left)
Cousin sleep over’s at The Avon shore house
Listening to this brand new album by the Eagles (The Long Run), who I had never heard before.
Playing tackle football, and pretending we were playing for either Notre Dame or for USC.
House party crashing in Bradley Beach
Everything Irish!!
John – I will definitely see you on the other side!!
With much love Roger, Susan, and Emma
I think of growing up with my cousins every time I am with my niece and nephews. I am amazed that we are now who our parents were when we were kids.
John was Roger and Steven’s age, and I was a "girl", so we did not have so many exciting adventures together, but I do have wonderful, treasured memories. Memories of my entire family driving to Uncle Bob and Aunt Kate’s house in Delaware for Easter countless years in a row. Memories of the uncles taking all the cousins on exciting trips to New York City and other places ... and so many memories of summers at the beach. In these memories, John was always a source of laughter, fun and sometimes trouble as he inspired us to be as full of life as he was. I remember John’s imitation of the Hulk as we stood on the steps of the Columns restaurant in Avon and entire sentences spoken in a burp. He actually taught me how to gulp air and do great belly burps. A skill that serves me to this day.
I have these memories of us in mind when I spend time with my nephews and niece, knowing that it is those moments, those pearls of memories that stand out, that make a difference; despite the distances, despite the years in between contact. We are eternally bound as a family by these moments we have shared. Nothing can change this.
Julie, Aunt Kate, Uncle Bob and Susan … all my love and prayers to you and to the girls. I don’t know what words would give comfort at a time like this or if such words even exist. What I do know is that the world is a better place for John having been in it.
Barbara Ann
(Barbie)
Thinking of John has aways made me smile. His humor, personality and concern for everyone always stood out like no other. I remember John when he was dating Julie, we immediately fell in love with him. We had soooo many special times... hurricanes, party's, boating and just hanging around laughing. He never had a cross word to speak and was always genuinely concerned about everyone's life. No one compared to John. He was one in a million and I thank God for being blessed having known him. We will miss his spirit so much and I love you Julie! Your sister in law/friend forever, Kyndal
A Tribute
There once was a lady named Kate.
Her love for her son was so great.
He was a true Irishman.
She is his #1 fan.
His new address is now “Pearly Gates”.
There were others in this Quinlan clan
Each cherished as much as anyone can
But the one that everyone knew
Is the one that flew for the red, white and blue.
He had a really big personality and was a great storyteller.
He loved to make people laugh, he was not a yeller!
He loved to surf and run.
This ‘Gentle Giant,’ loved to have fun.
This brother/ father’s love for his family was immense
His fight for his country was always intense
To serve his country made him proud.
It was this love that put him above many a cloud.
When it was time to serve his country, he did not balk.
He just went to his chopper, the great Night Hawk.
His earthly life ended doing what he loved to do.
Making the world better for me and you.
So when you look to the blueness of the sun-filled sky,
Let it remind you of the twinkle in his eye.
Say a prayer for the man that loved to fly.
‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ let that become our cry!
I wish there was more I could do or say
About this wonderful man who has passed away.
It is true, it is not a mistake.
God needed a caring, skillful pilot so it was John he did take.
Be at ease knowing angels are resting their wings.
Because Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Quinlan is in Heaven taking care of things.
He is flying high in his big Chinook in a Special Operations Aviation Regiment,
Still protecting and entertaining only all his missions are now Heaven sent.
With Deepest Sympathy
Wanda D. Smith
Asbury Park Middle School,
co-worker of Kate Quinlan
Today is Memorial Day, 2007, and I went to visit John at Arlington by myself. I miss John so much. I left the colors of the United States Marine Corps with John, as I know how proud he was of his Marine heritage, as he also was of his newest brothers from the 160th. Keep his girls, all four of them, his mom and dad, and Susan in your prayers, be strong for John and be strong for our country, as the USA needs all of us to pull together to crush the fanatics that are the taliban and al Qaeda.....Scott Kelley USMC
Still thinking of you Q!!!Darren
It's difficult to believe that two years have passed so quickly. At our mission, we see many people who are struggling to make good choices in their lives, ones that will make them better people. And John's story is told often, how he turned his whole life around, earned the respect of his peers, married a wonderful woman, had three beautiful daughters, became a great husband, father, son, brother and cousin, and died a true hero (John 15:13).
We are sad without him present here. But know for certain that he is present to the One who makes His Presence known in the human heart. By remaining close to the Lord, we remain close to John, who, I am confident, is enjoying eternal oneness of spirit with God Almighty - a goal for which we all, please God, strive to enjoy one day.
Each Friday we are blessed to have a priest celebrate Mass in our convent chapel. This Friday's Mass will be offered up for John, Julie and the girls, as well as Uncle Bob, Aunt Kate and Susan. I love you all and keep you in my daily prayers.
Seraphina
John;
You are still in our prayers.
Your family are all doing fine.
The girls are great; you would be so proud of them!
Love, Uncle John
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