Richard Hudson Quinn

1952 - 2023

Richard Hudson Quinn
March 30, 1952 - January 21, 2023
Austin, Texas - Richard Hudson Quinn was born on March 30, 1952 to B.E. Quinn Jr. and Harriet Peyton in Beaumont, TX. He died peacefully in his home with family on January 21, 2023. He is survived by his wife Darlene Quinn; his children Lauren and Thomas Quinn; and his brothers and their wives Ed and Pam Quinn, Bob and Barbara Quinn, and Pat Quinn.
Richard and Darlene met in Charlotte, NC in school while he worked on his masters and she a BS in biology. He ultimately obtained a PhD in cell physiology in 1988 at the University of Maryland. During this time his lab conducted research at Marine Biological Laboratories, located in the world renowned marine research town of Woods Hole, MA. Woods Hole quickly became a second home for the Quinn family. Richard then went on to complete a post-doctoral fellowship at The University of California in Berkley, CA. He then worked as a research scientist and lecturer in anatomy and physiology at The University of Texas in Austin. He eventually left his science career and decided to explore his more creative side, returning to school to learn how to build homes.
Richard was a renaissance man with a thirst for knowledge. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed working on various creative projects, and building anything his mind could imagine. Two of his passions in life were wilderness hiking and flying. His favorite place to go hiking was with friends in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. He was an artist who enjoyed oil painting, played the bagpipes, and also loved his day long Corvette rides through the Texas Hill Country. He was fascinated by planes ever since he was a young boy and eventually obtained a pilot's license, flying a Cessna 182. Richard was devoted to his wife and children, and part of what made him such a good father was that he forever maintained a child's appreciation and fascination for the world. He was kind to everyone he met and treated all with dignity and respect. He lived life with a strong moral code, always doing the right thing even when no one was looking. He was an inspiration for a life well lived. His goofy nature, endearing laugh, and curiosity will be dearly missed by all.
Services will be held on Monday, January 30th at 1:30 PM at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 3201 Windsor Road, Austin, TX 78703. Richard's burial will immediately follow at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Drive, Austin, TX 78731. Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Ridge Conservancy at blueridgeconservancy.org/memorials-and-tributes , or to High Rocks Camp for boys, "Camp High Rocks Campership Fund", for children that otherwise would not be able to attend. Richard always spoke fondly of his time at High Rocks where he attended summer camp in the North Carolina mountains, learning many valuable life lessons.