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William F. Quinn, 90, of Hanover, peacefully passed away on December 16, 2023 surrounded by loved ones, after period of declining health.
Bill was born on June 23, 1933, to John and Agnes Quinn in Lowell Massachusetts. After Bill graduated from Keith Academy, he obtained a degree in Civil Engineering at Northeastern University in 1955 and a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1967.
In 1959, he married Helen Dinneen also of Lowell, to whom he was married for 64 years. They soon moved to Hanover and raised their five children while living on Rip Road, surrounded by many dear and life-long friends.
After college, Bill served as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers, stationed in Alaska. He then began his career as one of the original employees of the brand-new Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in 1961. That career took him all over the world, including many locations above the artic circle like Greenland, the North Slope of Alaska, and Siberia. His children recall receiving crackling phone calls from him while their mother pointed to spots at the very top of the family globe, so they knew where the call was coming from.
Upon retirement in 1996, he was awarded the Department of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award, which particularly noted his work on the Alaskan Pipeline and his conception and leadership of the Frost Effects Research Facility at CRREL.
Bill was active in the community. He served for many years on the Parish Council of St. Denis Roman Catholic Church. Despite a lack of evidence that he even knew how to swim, he was the President of the Hanover Swim Team, on which all of his children competed, and officiated many Dartmouth College swim meets in the 1970s and ‘80s. After retirement, he devoted his time and efforts to the Hanover Lions Club. He was particularly proud of his work on the Lions’ auto show; something all his grandchildren very much appreciated and enjoyed.
Perhaps his most lasting contribution to the Hanover community was a construction project tied to the U.S. Bicentennial celebration, when he and Fred Crory, a CRREL co-worker and neighbor, assisted by numerous friends and kids, spent a summer building the “Colonial House” behind the Bernice A. Ray School. The Colonial House is a reproduction of a post-and-beam home of the 1700s, which they built using hand tools of the era. The house continues to be used by school children to learn about and live the history of colonial times.
Bill was predeceased by Helen, his wife of 64 years. He is survived by his five children Michael (Karen Lynch), of Newfields, NH, William (Maureen Packer), of Concord, NH, Kathleen of Wallkill, NY, Robert (Abby Rogers) of Concord, NH and Karen (Christopher Hood) of Burlington, VT and 11 grandchildren: Jack and Ellie Quinn, Ryan, Kevin and Lexi Quinn, Alex and Mark Fagouri, Sam and Oliver Quinn, and Henry and Walter Hood. He is also survived by his brother Jack Quinn and his wife Johanne, of Bristol TN, his brother-in-law, Vincent Gallucci, of Kennebunk ME, and his sister-in-law, Mary Lou Kelley of Chelmsford, MA. He was predeceased by his grandson, Benjamin Quinn, his sister, Mary Gallucci, and his brother James. He also leaves his good friends Claudia Bosse, Lilliana Paradiso and Kate Lynn Covell of Helping Hands who enriched his life for these past few years.
Bill will be remembered by his children and grandchildren as a true gentleman. He was patient and kind. When the going got rough, he whistled. Animals were drawn to him as if they knew he was a trustworthy soul. Ruby, the unofficial therapy dog, who spent countless hours on his lap these last few years, could attest to that. His engineering prowess was matched by his gentle, altruistic character.
A Wake will be held on Wednesday December 27th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Denis Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, December 28th at 10:30am.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hanover Lions Club.
Rand Wilson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
William F. Quinn, 90, of Hanover, peacefully passed away on December 16, 2023 surrounded by loved ones, after period of declining health.
Bill was born on June 23, 1933, to John and Agnes Quinn in Lowell Massachusetts. After Bill graduated from Keith Academy, he obtained a degree in Civil Engineering at Northeastern University in 1955 and a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1967.
In 1959, he married Helen Dinneen also of Lowell, to whom he was married for 64 years. They soon moved to Hanover and raised their five children while living on Rip Road, surrounded by many dear and life-long friends.
After college, Bill served as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers, stationed in Alaska. He then began his career as one of the original employees of the brand-new Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in 1961. That career took him all over the world, including many locations above the artic circle like Greenland, the North Slope of Alaska, and Siberia. His children recall receiving crackling phone calls from him while their mother pointed to spots at the very top of the family globe, so they knew where the call was coming from.
Upon retirement in 1996, he was awarded the Department of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award, which particularly noted his work on the Alaskan Pipeline and his conception and leadership of the Frost Effects Research Facility at CRREL.
Bill was active in the community. He served for many years on the Parish Council of St. Denis Roman Catholic Church. Despite a lack of evidence that he even knew how to swim, he was the President of the Hanover Swim Team, on which all of his children competed, and officiated many Dartmouth College swim meets in the 1970s and ‘80s. After retirement, he devoted his time and efforts to the Hanover Lions Club. He was particularly proud of his work on the Lions’ auto show; something all his grandchildren very much appreciated and enjoyed.
Perhaps his most lasting contribution to the Hanover community was a construction project tied to the U.S. Bicentennial celebration, when he and Fred Crory, a CRREL co-worker and neighbor, assisted by numerous friends and kids, spent a summer building the “Colonial House” behind the Bernice A. Ray School. The Colonial House is a reproduction of a post-and-beam home of the 1700s, which they built using hand tools of the era. The house continues to be used by school children to learn about and live the history of colonial times.
Bill was predeceased by Helen, his wife of 64 years. He is survived by his five children Michael (Karen Lynch), of Newfields, NH, William (Maureen Packer), of Concord, NH, Kathleen of Wallkill, NY, Robert (Abby Rogers) of Concord, NH and Karen (Christopher Hood) of Burlington, VT and 11 grandchildren: Jack and Ellie Quinn, Ryan, Kevin and Lexi Quinn, Alex and Mark Fagouri, Sam and Oliver Quinn, and Henry and Walter Hood. He is also survived by his brother Jack Quinn and his wife Johanne, of Bristol TN, his brother-in-law, Vincent Gallucci, of Kennebunk ME, and his sister-in-law, Mary Lou Kelley of Chelmsford, MA. He was predeceased by his grandson, Benjamin Quinn, his sister, Mary Gallucci, and his brother James. He also leaves his good friends Claudia Bosse, Lilliana Paradiso and Kate Lynn Covell of Helping Hands who enriched his life for these past few years.
Bill will be remembered by his children and grandchildren as a true gentleman. He was patient and kind. When the going got rough, he whistled. Animals were drawn to him as if they knew he was a trustworthy soul. Ruby, the unofficial therapy dog, who spent countless hours on his lap these last few years, could attest to that. His engineering prowess was matched by his gentle, altruistic character.
A Wake will be held on Wednesday December 27th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Denis Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, December 28th at 10:30am.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hanover Lions Club.
Rand Wilson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
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Rand-Wilson Funeral Home
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Hanover, NH 03755
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