Michael Paul McQuillen

Michael Paul McQuillen died September 18, 2025, spending his last days in the presence of his wife Louise, family and dedicated caregivers. He was born September 9, 1932, in Bronxville NY to Paul and Dorothy McQuillen, joining his 3 older sisters Anne, Joan, and Patricia. Michael attended Xavier High School in Manhattan, NY. He then graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude (1953), completing his MD (1957) and Neurology residency (1960) at Georgetown University School of Medicine. He pursued a fellowship in Applied Physiology at Johns Hopkins University (1960-62) and served as junior faculty there until 1965. He joined the University of Kentucky (UK) Neurology faculty in 1965, leaving in 1974 to found and Chair the Medical College of Wisconsin Neurology Department, where he also founded their Center for the Study of Bioethics (1982). In 1987 he returned as Chair of the UK Neurology Department until 1993. Building on prior bioethics training at Georgetown, he achieved a Clinical Ethics MA at the University of Virginia in 1994 before completing his clinical career at the University of Rochester and Stanford University.

Michael held leadership and advisory roles with numerous professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. His involvement spanned clinical, educational, and ethical dimensions, including chairing committees and serving as examiner, director, and policy contributor. A prolific author, he published over 80 original articles ranging from basic and clinical research on neuromuscular disorders to exploration of ethical issues in end-of-life care. He was inducted as a member of the Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars in 1979, honoring his research work in Myasthenia gravis and neuromuscular disorders. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland. His legacy lives on in the multiple generations of Neurology residents he trained and mentored through the years. His devotion and care for his patients earned recognition with a lifetime achievement award given at the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America National Patient Conference in 2011.

Michael's greatest joy, however, was his family. He is survived by his lovely bride of 68 years Louise; their 4 children (spouses) Daniel (Michele), Thomas (Clare), Patrick (Peggy) and Kathleen (Sean); 10 grandchildren Claire (John), Aileen (Brayden), Meghan, Isaac (Rachel), Ella, Aerin, Caden, Cara, Grace and Nora; and 3 great-grandchildren Theodore, John and Sylvie.

At family gatherings he enjoyed telling stories of his childhood. A true New Yorker, he spent his summers in Montauk, Long Island working at Duryea's fish market where his job was to smell the lobsters to determine which ones were the "most fresh." He would then tell you he had a terrible sense of smell which meant that "not so fresh" lobsters ended up in lobster salad.

Michael was a die-hard Yankees fan and loved to tell people how his mother went to the same butcher as Babe Ruth, who arranged for a signed baseball "To my pal Mike!"- a prized possession to this day.

Ireland has always been where his heart resides. Almost every jacket he owned was made from Irish tweed, and he frequently wore a tweed cap. Trips to Ireland were on the top of his list. The last and most special one was to St Finbarr's Oratory, Gougane Barra, County Cork to renew his wedding vows with Louise on their 50th anniversary in front of all their children and grandchildren. If you happened to meet Michael, he would always tell you to "Have a peaceful day." It is safe to say he lived many happy and peaceful days in his 93 years - especially the days he spent with the love of his life, his bride Louise, and their extended family.

Michael's family is planning a memorial service January 3rd 11:00 AM at:

St Dominic's Catholic Church

2390 Bush Street

San Francisco CA 94115

Please send donations to:

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America

Attn: In Memory of Dr. Michael McQuillen

290 Turnpike Road, Suite 5-315

Westborough, MA 01581

Online: https://myasthenia.givevirtuous.org/donate/donation-form

(There is an option to designate gifts "In Memory Of" on the donation form.)