John J. Quindlen

John J. Quindlen, of Media passed away September 29, 2024 at the age of 92. He attended Most Blessed Sacrament, West Catholic HS ('50); Villanova University ('54); and received his MBA from Drexel University. Served 2 years as a Lieutenant in the US Navy and went on to Officer Candidate school in Rhode Island. Worked his entire career at E.I. DuPont beginning in an entry level position and rose throughout his career to become Chief Financial Officer of the Company. He retired at the age of 62. John was actively involved in his community and various organizations, including: Served on the Board of Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Board of St. Joe's Paper Company, Panama City Beach, Florida; Board of Trustees at Villanova; and the Board for the Augustinians. He also received numerous accolades: Honorary Doctorate from Villanova, 1998 recipient of the Immaculata Medal, 1998 recipient of the Knights of the Order of St. Gregory, 1998 recipient Elizabeth Seton Award, and the 2003 Award for Outstanding Catholic Leadership.
John was the beloved son of the late Eugene and Catherine Quindlen and the cherished brother of the late Gene, Catherine, Francis, Charlie, Bob, and Mary. He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Catherine (nee Kelly) Quindlen, and his beloved children: Jack (Mary Ellen), Kathleen (Bill), Stephen (Tish), Jerry (Teresa), and Tom (Michele). He leaves behind a legacy of love, represented by 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. John was also a brother-in-law to Sister Joan Kelly and Pat Godwin.
Jack prized education and traveled around the country to attend his grandchildren's graduations. He loved making plans of any sort: plans to go into the city to see a show with friends, plans to get back down to Florida to score another hole-in-one on the Moorings golf course, plans for Alaskan cruises and trips to the Bahamas with his expansive Irish brood. He was committed to health and exercise, often waking up with the dark to sweat on his Nordic Track. He was fascinated by business, innovation, and all things mechanical; when his oldest grandson obtained a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, Jack read his thesis cover to cover. After retiring from DuPont, Jack used his time, talent, and treasure for the benefit of many charitable endeavors. He established multiple scholarships at Villanova University and chaired the Blue Ribbon Commission for Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Bishop Shanahan High School was constructed and opened under his leadership.
More than anything, Jack valued family. He and his beloved wife, Kitty, met as teenagers, married in their early twenties, and had five children in the span of seven years. They were equals in all things and Jack insisted that Kitty's name come first during the speeches at their 50th anniversary party. They sent their children to Catholic school and brought them up with the values of Christian charity. Jack knew how to challenge his children to harness their natural talents, but he also knew how to have fun. His children remember him as the family body surf champ, plowing into the waves while instructing them to act like "the bow of a ship." In July 2024, Kitty and Jack were blessed to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with their five children and five children-in-law, whom they considered their own blood.
Jack was always thinking of the next generation and dreaming up ways to ensure the family remained close. He built a house in Ocean City, NJ, that became a gathering place for his children and grandchildren. On summer mornings at the shore, Jack would make dozens of pancakes with a dash of vanilla and then walk his grandchildren down to the beach to jump in the waves. In the evenings, he sat at the head of the big table to enjoy a home-cooked meal, dessert (always), and a glass of caffeine-free Diet Coke. He loved a busy house full of laughter, games, and comings and goings. He did not need to be the center of attention and was content to sit back and laugh as his descendants bantered and teased each other. He passed on his strong faith and more than once invited a priest to the shore house so the family could celebrate Mass in the intimacy of their family room.
As anyone will tell you, Jack was a uniquely intelligent, cerebral man who made smart decisions all his life, but two of them stand out from the rest. The first, in September of 1948, was to attend a local church dance, where he met Kitty and asked for her hand. The second, in 1984, was to build that shore house in Ocean City. For forty years, his children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren have come to that house to gather together. When the house was renovated a few years ago, Jack's only request was to leave the original wooden baby-gate intact for the benefit of the next generation.
As his cherished wife was known to say, "Grandpop had a plan all those years ago to keep the family together, and thank God it worked." How lucky we are that he was ours".
A devoted family man, respected leader, and active community member, John J. Quindlen's legacy will live on through his family, friends, and the many lives he touched.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Visitation 9:30-10:45 A.M. Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2400 N. Providence Road, Media, PA 19063 followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:00 A.M. which will be livestreamed https://www.stmarymagdalen.net/live-stream Burial is private.
In lieu of flowers, family request contributions be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Office of Development, 701 E. Columbia Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45215-3947.