Yearbook Sayings

Middletown  . . .
college, then U.S. Naval Reserve  . . .
plans to be a career naval officer  . . .
hates being told what to do  . . .
collects coins and stamps  . . .
yearbook  . . .  "Q"  . . . 
"Tijuana Smalls - You Know Who You Are!"

Activities:  Glee Club, Yearbook Correspondent

Current Info

Larry lives with his wife Linda in Schwenksville, PA where they have raised two daughters.  Larry loves fishing in the Keys and is a avid collector of Red Sox memorabilia.

Update May 2011

Dear Classmates,
It's been a rough few years.  I got Wegener's granulomatosis, a disease that affects the nose, lungs, kidneys and other organs.  It took a long time for the disease to be diagnosed and if it were not for the efforts of my loving wife, I certainly would not be around today.   

I have had to endure a lot of chemotherapy-type of treatments and there are certainly more to come.  I also am on oxygen.  But at least right now I am able to get around with a wheelchair and get out once in a while.  I would love to come up to Newport to see all of you, but given my current situation, its really not possible.

I hope all of you have a great time at the 40th reunion and please take lots of pictures and update your profiles so I can see what all of you are up to.

Sincerely,
Larry Quinn

Biography for Lawrence (aka Mighty) Quinn - August 2007

Dear Classmates,

For someone who hated being told what to do (as you may recall), who could believe that I would join the Navy?  Of course, pressure from my parents and a draft number of 32 played a big part.
So my life as an enlisted sailor began...

I may have been enlisted, but I’d be darned if I would salute an officer! My payback came in Washington DC when a busload of officers stopped in front of me and started to unload officer after officer.  All of my non-saluting ways was made up that day! 

I also had the chance to “enjoy” life at sea during two Med cruises. We also went through the Bermuda Triangle on our way to Cuba for sea trials. We lost all communication, the waters got choppy, sky got dark and it was pretty scary. 

Sea trials was an experience too. My ship (USS Voge.... may she rest in peace) could not hit the side of a barn!  I was pretty embarrassed until I realized that it takes pretty "good" aim to miss a target as big as another ship.  The gunners knew we would be heading to Viet Nam and didn’t care how much our Captain got reamed by the Admiral about our "poor" gunnery.  Our sister ship did great----hit the target every time....and went to Nam for a year.  Poor suckers!

When I finally got on shore duty, I spent my days at the Bureau of Naval Personnel doing humanitarian hardship transfers.  One time they made me duty driver where I had to haul these officers back and forth from the Pentagon. 

One time a captain was going to a meeting about making things better for sailors on sea duty. He asked me how it was and I let it all out on him. He wouldn’t let me open the door for him when we finally got to the Pentagon. (and I never was a duty driver again). 

I also “took part” in Jimmy Carter’s inauguration. Actually, too many sailors showed up, so they said I could go back to work or wait for them to call me at home. You know what I chose..... they never did call me at home but I made sure I watched everything from the comfort of my living room so I could tell the guys in the office how terribly cold it was standing along the parade route!

The stress of the job took its toll (besides having problems with my pituitary gland) and I couldn’t pass my physical.  The doctor told me to get out and go straight to the VA to apply for disability. Of course I didn’t, and continued to work as a contract writer.  

But eventually I had to stop working at age 30. That was a real blow to the old ego, but you gotta do what you gotta do when you have a wife and 2 kids to support.  I think if it wasn’t for my Irish stubbornness, I would have given up. 

Now that I am doing better, I spend my days taking care of the house and property, enjoy my pets and spending time with my wife. We try to get away to the Florida Keys once a year to go deep-sea fishing. We’re also planning our second trip to Italy. I figure you better go when you can, cause I’m not gonna feel any better later.

Sorry I missed you guys at the re-union. Maybe next time..... just remember to enjoy life in the present cause you don’t know what tomorrow may bring.

Sincerely,

Website Links

Lawrence Donald Quinn Obituary

January 27, 1953 - December 31, 2014

Lawrence Donald Quinn, age 61, passed away Wednesday, December 31, 2014. He was the beloved husband of Linda (Schaefer) Quinn for over 41 years.

Born January 27, 1953 in Chelsea Massachusetts, he was the son of Donald and Joan Quinn of Tiverton, RI. Larry honorably served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Voge and at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington D.C. Larry was a lifelong Red Sox fan, enjoyed deep sea fishing and helping others in any capacity he could.

His true passion was spending time with his family and friends. In addition to his wife and parents, Larry is survived by his 2 daughters Jennifer Truett and her husband Barry and Patricia Quinn; brother Gary Quinn and his wife Cheryl, and numerous nieces and nephews.