John Francis Quinlan, Jr.

John Francis Quinlan, Jr., aka Buddy, 101, of Weymouth passed peacefully in the arms of his loving son and caretaker, Charlie on April 21, 2022.

John was the son of Weymouth Police Officer Jack Quinlan & Betty (Swarbrick) Quinlan of Weymouth and Florida.

He was born in Somerville on February 17, 1921 and moved to North Weymouth in 1923, where he was raised.

He married his Weymouth High School Class of 1940 sweetheart, Eleanor (Nocera) Quinlan in 1942, who predeceased him in 1994. They raised their children in East Weymouth.

He was also predeceased by his son James F. Quinlan (1997) and his brother William R. Quinlan (2008).

John worked at General Dynamics from 1940 to 1944 as a Shipfitter for the War effort.  He joined the Navy in 1944 and served at McAlester Naval Ammunition Depot in McAlester, OK until 1946.  He came home and helped build the “USS Salem” (CA-139), a Heavy Cruiser, which is now a Naval Museum in Quincy. He saw her launched into the Fore River and saw her return back to the Fore River.  He would retire after 35 years as a Truck Driver for the Weymouth Department of Public Works Highway Division. He liked his job Sweeping the Streets & Plowing the Snow!

He enjoyed boating, muscle cars and following New England sports teams. He spent his later years enjoying trips to the Lakes Region and White Mountains of NH.  He loved riding on the various scenic Railroads, the Mail Boat & Mt. Washington on Lake Winnepesaukee. He loved Clark’s Trading Post,Santa’s Village and Castle in the Clouds. He enjoyed listening to the radio, most especially the great songs on WMEX-AM 1510.

John was descended from Thomas & Jane Walford who settled at Wessagussett (North Weymouth) in September 1623.  They would remove to Mishuwam (Charlestown/Somerville) in March 1625 as the first settlers.  They would finally settle Strawberry Bank and Great Island in Portsmouth, NH in 1631. He was descended from many Pilgrim and Puritan families in New England.

He is survived by his son Eddie and wife, Elaine (Samuels) Quinlan and his Granddaughters,  Emily Quinlan and her wife, Susannah Sapir and Elyse Quinlan and her partner Luke Bigham, and his newborn Great Granddaughter, Ellyana Eve Bigham.

He is survived by his caretakers, son Charlie and his wife Jodi (Purdy) Quinlan and his Grandsons, John and Jake Quinlan.

He also leaves his daughter, Elly (Nicky) LoPorto, his Grandsons Nick (Kathy) LoPorto, Great Grandsons, Nicholas (Brianna) LoPorto, Great Great Grandchildren, Cruz and Aurora LoPorto. Great Grandsons, Michael, Sean and Derek LoPorto.  Grandson Eric (Shannon) LoPorto and Great Granddaughters Katelyn, Rachel and Brooke LoPorto. Step-Great Grandchildren Kailey Kane, Aiden and Sophie McLaughlin.

He is also survived by the Nocera, Quinlan, Purdy, Theriault, Samuels, Middendorf and Keough Families.

In addition, his friends Mike McKay, Robert Sheehan, Jr., Michael Coughlan and Raquel Soto and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were made by the Keohane-McDonald Funeral Home.  Burial was at the North Weymouth Cemetery. Services were private.

Donations can be made in John’s Memory to The North Weymouth Cemetery Association, PO Box 126, North Weymouth, MA 02191 or Weymouth Historical Society, Inc., (Emery Estate project), PO Box 56, South Weymouth, MA 02190.