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John Quinn Obituary

John Quinn called

'strong voice' for

the environment

John Quinn, who designed the specialty license plate that promotes the Meadowlands his favorite spot on earth has died. He was 73.

"I'm just a Ridgefield Park kid who grew up to become an artist struggling to use his art to make a statement to anyone who will listen," the bearded, rugged-looking Mr. Quinn said in a 1980 profile in The Record.

His most visible statement, spotted on hundreds of vehicle bumpers, was the Meadowlands license plate, one of scores of specialty plates offered by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Mr. Quinn designed the plate, which shows an egret, a terrapin and phragmites, the common wetlands reed, while he was employed by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission as a natural resource specialist and staff artist.

The plate was first issued in February 2001. Proceeds from its sale benefit the Meadowlands Conservation Trust, which provides funding to the Meadowlands Commission for the purchase and preservation of open space in the Meadowlands and the Hackensack River watershed.

From July 2011 through April, 145 Meadowlands license plates were sold and 1,077 were renewed, according to the MVC. The plate generated $19,866 for the Meadowlands Conservation Trust in 2011, said commission spokesman Brian Aberback. Data for the 11-year life of the Meadowlands plate were not available.

Designing the license plate was a seven-month endeavor. The Meadowlands Commission initially invited New Jersey artists to submit designs, but most were too detailed to fit on the license plate. Mr. Quinn, who was in charge of reviewing the submissions, ultimately blended some of the designs into his own.

The license plate was a point of pride for Mr. Quinn because "the Meadowlands were near and dear to him, from early childhood on," his daughter, Denise Quinn Nanke, said.

As a boy, Mr. Quinn explored the marshlands near Ridgefield Park and rescued small animals in need of rehabilitation. "My grandmother's sink would be filled with oil-soaked birds," Nanke said.

John Quinn graduated from Ridgefield Park High School and received a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Parsons School of Design. In addition to the stint with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, he authored and illustrated 11 books, including "Fields of Sun and Grass: An Artist's Journal of the New Jersey Meadowlands," and worked for the Philadelphia Museum of Natural History and the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in New Hampshire.

Inspiration to others

Thomas Yezerski, whose book "The Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story" made The New York Times list of 10 notable children's picture books in 2011, credited Mr. Quinn's "Fields of Sun and Grass" as both an inspiration and a resource.

"My book is just a simplification of his," Yezerski said. "John had a great understanding of the complexities of the Meadowlands."

The two authors never met, but traded emails in March after Yezerski acknowledged Mr. Quinn's book while promoting "A Wetlands Survival Story" at the Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst.

"Dear Tom: I'm trimming my e-mails back," Mr. Quinn wrote in his last email to Yezerski, "and wanted to wish you success in whatever direction your bliss takes you. Follow it, lad, follow it. Life is too short."

Yezerski was unaware that his fellow author was battling lung cancer.

Katycq Weidel, a longtime landscape architect with the Meadowlands Commission, said "Fields of Sun and Grass" is required reading for new agency employees. "I give the book to everyone who starts here," she said, adding that Mr. Quinn was "a strong voice" for the environment.

Mr. Quinn, who had retired to Gonic, N.H., died May 25 at the Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts. A memorial service will be held next Monday June 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi R.C. Church in Ridgefield Park. His ashes will be interred on opposite coasts: in Washington State's Puget Sound and next to the New Hampshire grave of his wife, Lucille Quinn, who died in 2010.

Mr. Quinn is survived by his daughters, Denise Quinn Nanke of Salem, Ore., and Erika Quinn Johnson and Meredithecq Quinn-Loerts, both of Olympia, Wash.; two stepdaughters, Cynthia Wigren of Amesbury, Mass., and Jennifer Simoneau of Amherst, N.H.; four siblings, Richard Quinn of Barryville, N.Y., Mary Lou Quinn of Charlottesville, Va., Eileen Hamlin of Grottoes, cq Va., and Stephen Quinn of Ridgefield Park; six grandchildren; and his first wife, Patt cq Wheeler, of Olympia.

Asked how the man who designed the Meadowlands license plate would want to be remembered, Nanke said: "For the legacy he left through his artwork, and for his care and love of the natural world. He was a conservationist at heart."

Email: [email protected]

Published by The Record/Herald News on Jun. 5, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for John Quinn

Not sure what to say?





13 Entries

Thanks John I'm just rereading your book fields of sun and grass oh how it brings back great memories of the overpeck creek where I grew up trapping crabing hunting swimming and boating it was great you nailed it

Peter poirier

School

October 12, 2023

MARY THERESA SMITH

Friend

July 21, 2017

Valenda Newell

June 19, 2017

I great loss to NJ and to NH. I have fond memories of exploring the White Mountains with my Dad and John. I also recently came a across a envelope full of clipping that from John's editorial column that I inheritted from my dad. If any of his descendants is interested in hanging onto them please drop me a note: [email protected]

David Long

February 22, 2013

John was a positive influence to all of us in the neighborhood and I don't ever remember him not smiling when you ran into to him. He' d always offer a hearty hello which you knew was always heartfelt and was more than ready to talk about nature,the neighborhood or what was going on in your life. I'm glad I knew him and could call him a friend.
Gene Hammond (Ridgefield Park)

June 10, 2012

John was coming into the meadowlands as I was leaving after 18 years as executive director so I did not know him personally. John reached out to me to compliment me on a successful tenure and presented me with a drawing I have displayed in my office. It was a thoughtful, kind gesture of respect that I will forever remember. Unsolicited thoughtfulness is the best kind. Thank You John

Anthony Scardino Jr

June 9, 2012

John and I spend many childhood hours in the medowlands. I was always impressed by his knowledge of the birds and animals. I have 2 pencil drawings he gave me and a copy of his book. I will always remember our friendship and the many happy hours we spent together. I feel the loss of John deeply.

vincent colling

June 7, 2012

he was a great uncle and my godfather he will be missed

brian castelli

June 7, 2012

John will be sorely missed. I had the honor to work with John on an exhibit about the Meadowlands at the Puffin Cultural Forum. His books are an inspiration to me and Fields of Sun and Grass in particular point the way toward a better future for this recovering place. John was the real deal.
An artist, conservationist and a man full of grace.

Rick Mills

June 5, 2012

John was such an ispiration to me when I was growing up in NYC for all the good things he did for distressed animals. He was my childhood hero and I will never forget him

Ric Arra

June 5, 2012

JOHN WAS A WONDERFUL ARTIST AND A GOOD MAN, WE WERE HAPPY THAT HE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS DAUGHTERS AND OUR FAMILY WHILE WE LIVED IN SALEM OR. AND OLYMPIA,WA.. HIS BOOKS WERE ENJOYED ON BOTH COASTS. HE WILL BE MISSED .

Patt and Mark Wheeler

June 5, 2012

John was a lover of God's creation. I can remember as a child visiting John and Pat when he worked for the museum in Philadelphia. We didn't need to go to the museum or zoo. He had an owl he was taking care of in his home.

I remember his many stories of rescue trips in the Meadowlands.

I remember how my Dad, Henry, adored John and his brother Rich in the letters he sent home during WWII.

For me, I remember John for his good and kind nature. Even though he was much older than me, I enjoyed talking to him. I also learned to respect and care for nature and our environment around us.

Now my son enjoy's art. John's books are an inspiration to him.

John's memory will live on through those he touched.

God Bless You John!

Donald Quinn

June 5, 2012

Please note that the memorial service will be held at 9:30 am at St. Francis of Assisi in Ridgefield Park on Monday June 11.

Denise Quinn Nanke

June 5, 2012

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