William Patrick Quinn

William (Bill) Patrick Quinn, M.P.H., passed away quietly on March 4, 2026. He was born to Anna (O'Connor) and William (Bubby) Quinn in Waterbury, CT, March 26, 1943.

After graduating from Croft High School, he completed undergrad studies at the Universities of Denver and New Haven. Early on he began his career as an elementary school teacher at Prince Street School in New Haven. Later, he pursued a degree in Public Health at Yale School of Medicine. His first position in public health as Director of Health for Cheshire, CT. Working with the leaders of nearby towns, he was instrumental in the development of the Chesprocott Heath District, serving Cheshire, Prospect and Wolcott and later Watertown, and became its first Health Director. He then, moved on to lead the Danbury Health Department, followed by the New Haven Health Department post. There, among his biggest accomplishments were working with multiple departments in the City, Yale University, and state leaders to get legislative passage of the States first Needle Exchange Program, which proved to decrease AIDS transmission in the City. After his tenure in New Haven, he went back to his roots in Waterbury to be Director of Health there until his departure in 2020.

Over the years as Health Director, Bill regularly lectured at Southern Connecticut State University and the Yale School of Public Health. He was also happy to be invited many times to share his experiences as Health Director by speaking to students in the health class at Career High School. Whenever asked, Bill was ready to go and respond to requests to speak about A range of public health topics. He was always advocating public health issues, also offering testimony and speaking to legislators at the State level. His greatest pleasures were fishing, boating, breakfast at Manjares Café, being with his grandkids(Austin and Ava), and the annual Derby Day barbecue hosted with Joann and Billy Wich, and the Red Sox when they won.

Bill was an active member of the American Public Health Association, CT Association of Directors of Health, the Association of Yale Alumni in Public Health. He is survived by his wife, Peaches (Gniewosh), son, Aaron (Des Moines, Iowa), sister, Katherine (Favale) and his brothers Kerry and Brian (Waterbury and Cheshire) and their families.

Calling hours are from 3-8pm. March 27 and 28 at 896 Quinnipiac Ave., Unit 1, New Haven, CT 06513. A Catholic mass will be celebrated in April in Waterbury, date and location detail to be announced.