William M. “Bill” Quinlan was called home to the Lord on Wednesday morning, July 2, 2025, a month shy of his 96th birthday.
Bill was born in Bushwick, Brooklyn on August 11, 1929, third child and first son of Martin and Bridgid Josephine (Brady) Quinlan. He was baptized three weeks later at St. Martin of Tours Church. Love of God, Love of the USA, and love of New York City remained constant his whole life.
His family remained in Brooklyn as the Great Depression came on with the Stock Market Crash in October. But by 1934, with 25% unemployment, the Quinlans brought Bill and their growing family back to Ireland where they eventually settled in Cashel, in Martin’s native Tipperary, where Bill attended the Christian Brothers School and played rugby.
Bill returned to New York in 1951 to serve in the Korean War in the U.S. Navy, where he worked as a flight crew mechanic on the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier. Upon completion of his active duty service he continued in the Naval Reserve, thereby becoming a Veteran of service in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Bill loved his time in the Navy, where he also learned to love airplanes: two more loves he maintained all his life. Bill continued learning airplane mechanics, and qualified as an Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic. He was a proud employee of TWA for his civilian career.
The one love which grounded him was what he found with Fran Scarry (Bridget Frances Scarry, as she was baptized) his “Frankeen”, a beautiful green-eyed redhead from Galway. She captured his heart and cherished it in the dancehalls of 50s Yorkville. Her fervor and enthusiasm proved the best complement to his kind and easy-going nature. They swore their love in Faith at the altar of St Monica Church in Yorkville on May 31, 1958, and only grew closer as 67 years went by.
Bill and Fran began married life in Astoria, but soon moved to Fordham in the Bronx as their family grew. They settled in St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, and later moved up to Bedford Park and St. Philip Neri. In the early 80s they bought a house on Mile Square Road in Yonkers, and have since moved to The Bristal Assisted living in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
Bill and Fran shared five children: Timothy (Lany), the late Brian, Father Liam, John (Vinnie), and Pamela Bowman (Mike).
Bill loved his 11 grandchildren: the late Daniel, Patrick, Brendan, and Andrew Quinlan; Brian, William, and John (Gabby) Quinlan; Emily (Bobby) Maguire, Alyson, Gregory, and Claire Bowman. Bill is also survived by his brother John (Maev) of Wicklow, his sister Beatrice Leahy of Cashel, Tipperary. He was predeceased by his sister Olive Gaynor, his sister Valerie McCarthy, his brother Patrick, and his sister Maureen Giles.
Bill was an avid reader, knowledgeable stargazer, BBQ aficionado and master meat carver. He was a loving Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Gramper and Poppy. His warm nature and loving smile will be missed by his entire family.
Reposing Monday, July 7th from 4 - 8 pm at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx NY. (Parking provided at St. Margaret of Cortona) Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, July 8th at 10:30 am at St. Margaret of Cortona. Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in William’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.