Matthew Demery Quinn

Matthew Demery Quinn, 33, died on April 4th, 2025. He is survived by his mother, Martha Quinn (Tom Fons); father, Don Quinn; brother, Michael Quinn (Mary), niece, Abigail Quinn, and many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Matthew was an incredibly talented and accomplished young man and lived a life devoted to serving others. As a child he was always busy designing and building structures and toys, inventing games, and writing newspapers. For his seventh birthday, he asked for orange construction cones and a roll of caution tape. For his ninth birthday he wanted a post hole digger and cement to fix the backyard fence. At ten, he built the gate on the fence that is still functioning today. At eleven, he received his first chef's hat and apron, which began a lifelong love of cooking. And at thirteen, he got his first Sawzall, which began his career in construction.
He spent the summer after seventh grade writing, directing, and filming a movie which included all the neighborhood kids as the actors. He subsequently became an expert photographer and videographer.
He graduated from Shrine High School in Royal Oak and Lake Superior State University with a double major in Criminal Justice and Fire Science. During High School he became a National Ski Patroller and began the course work to become an EMT. He also served as a leader for SADD and a volunteer in the emergency room at Beaumont Hospital.
He loved the outdoors in northern Michigan, hunting, golfing, and especially fishing. He spent many happy weeks fishing in the Canadian wilderness. He was also an accomplished diver.
In 2012, Matt became a ski patroller at Boyne Highlands and went on the become head of the ski patrol there. In 2018, he was awarded both the Gold Merit Star from the National Ski Patrol System and the National Outstanding Paid Patroller award, Central Division. While employed at Boyne Highlands, Matthew completed half the requirements to earn his journeyman electrician card.
One summer he also ran the Equestrian program at Boyne Highlands, which was quite amusing for his family who knew he had never ridden a horse until then. He went on to become a skilled equestrian and owned several horses. He spent other summers working for a landscaper cutting down and trimming trees and working on a dairy farm. While still at Boyne Highlands, he taught yearly classes in Outdoor Emergency Medicine in partnership with the medical school at Michigan State University.
Matt continued his education and became a dedicated paramedic, helping countless others in crisis, even delivering several babies.
When he was 25, he became the director of Safety and Security at Boyne Highlands, and he remained in that position for several years. Matthew was also a firefighter for the City of Harbor Springs.
In his early 20s, he started his Quinn's Outdoor Services business, building decks and retaining walls. He became a licensed builder and expanded his business to include renovations and multiple specialty projects, developing expertise in a remarkable number of areas. He continued to grow his business and pursued it full time after leaving Boyne Highlands.
Matthew was kind-hearted, intelligent, good-natured, generous, and loving. Above all, he valued being helpful to others and was always eager to offer his assistance to friends and strangers. In kindergarten he won the award for Great Kindness, which he demonstrated throughout his life. Matt made friends easily and maintained many close friendships all over the state throughout his life. He especially cherished all the many summers spent in Hillman, Michigan on Lake Avalon.
Matt loved riding his motorcycle and he was a member of the Shadow Riders Motorcycle Club. He looked forward to the annual gatherings where he was both a participant and the on-site paramedic. This led to involvement in securing a position as an avid motorcycle rider for a yet-to-be-released movie in which he also had a speaking role.
Matt loved animals and was devoted to his many rescue dogs, finding his last one when he went out for pizza one night and came home with Buddy.
Matthew was an amazingly capable and competent person. He would do anything for anybody without ever expecting anything in return. He positively impacted the lives of everyone who knew him. Matthew loved his family and friends and was very deeply loved. He always presented as friendly and confident, but he kept his emotions very close and private, managing the pain and tribulations that life inevitably delivers by himself and never sharing the burdens he carried. So be free of pain now, our beloved Matthew, and rest in peace.
A Memorial Service will take place at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks, Clawson, Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 2pm. Friends may visit beginning at 12 Noon. Matthew's service was recorded and can be viewed online here.
To honor Matt's life-long love of animals and his many rescue dogs, the family invites those wishing to make a memorial contribution to support Detroit Dog Rescue. Donations can be made directly at https://bit.ly/MDQDETROITDOGRESCUE
Please select "In Memory Of" and enter Matthew's name.