Donald Paul Quinn of Plymouth Massachusetts, died at home with his family on July 10, 2024. He was born February 9, 1938, in Newton, MA. Don lived a full life prioritizing family, demonstrating generosity and embracing his interests in music, history, golf, and real estate law & conservation.
Don loved jazz. A professional-level saxophone player, he started gigging in his early teens. He supported his family and paid his way through Harvard and Boston College Law School with his band. In the 1990s, he took a sabbatical at Rhodes University in South Africa, to support its new library of African music, and played in the Namibian Independence Day parade. He recorded a reunion concert in 1997 with his former bandmates, many of whom were professionals.
Don had a passion for golf, learning the game as a caddie at Brae Burn Country Club in the 50s. He was awarded the Ouimet Scholarship to support his studies at Harvard, where he was a member of the golf team and a near scratch player. He put his love of golf aside for the early seventies when he had children, but as a reward for this sacrifice he and his family joined Brae Burn, and in the eighties he shot a 68 on that classic Donald Ross course. Don remained involved in golf through the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, and as an early supporter of the development of the Old Sandwich Golf Club (his home course for the past two decades).
After preparing at Newton High School, Don was admitted to Harvard College. As a member of Dudley House and the Harvard Class of 1960, he majored in history, inspiring his career in law. He viewed many of his cases over six decades through the lens of history, which contributed to his efficacy in the field. He was a first-generation college graduate. He made it through Harvard with the help of many friends and faculty while supporting his mother and ailing father. In 2001 he established the Donald P. Quinn Class of 1960 Scholarship which supports financial aid. After Harvard, Don attended Boston College Law School and fulfilled his ROTC duties, becoming a Captain in the Army, First Cavalry Division, Artillery (Airmobile).
His legal career began in the late 1960s at Goodwin, Procter & Hoar, where he was a partner and leader in the real estate department for thirty-four years. He retired from the firm in 1997 and opened a real estate practice in Plymouth, MA.
Amongst his philanthropic endeavors, Don was on the boards of the Old Colony YMCA and Plimoth Patuxet Museums. He brought his real estate legal knowledge to many philanthropic conservation activities, most notably in establishing the Ellisville Harbor State Park and the Shifting Lots Preserve with the Wildlands Trust. Don also donated hundreds of acres of land to Massachusetts and facilitated many additional donations from others.
Son of Francis and Mary Quinn of Newton MA, and brother to Francis (all deceased), Don leaves a family by whom he was beloved: his wife of 57 years, Judith Quinn; his elder son Stephen, and his two children Sofia and Caleb; his younger son Keith, his daughter-in-law Erika, and their three children Charlie, Lachlan, and Phoebe; and numerous close cousins and relations in the extended Goodwin, Allen, McLellan, Clapp, and Imrie families.
Visiting hours for friends and family will be held at the Quinn's home at 188 Ellisville Rd., Plymouth MA on July 13 & 14, 2024 from 11am to 5pm.
There will be a Celebration of Life at the Harvard Club of Boston, Massachusetts Ave, Boston MA, on July 31 at 11am.
