Quinn, Father John
1969, October 24
Date of Birth: 1899, July 6
John Quinn was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on July 6, 1899. He began his elementary education at St. Teresa’s Parochial School in 1906 and continued, in 1914, at La Salle High School, from which he graduated in 1918. He then spent two years at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland, before going to the Seminary of Philosophy in Montreal in 1922. From there he proceeded to the Sulpician Seminary (Theological College) at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Ordained to major orders in 1925, he left Washington to come to St. Charles College to teach English and Greek. On March 26, 1926, he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Curley of Baltimore in the chapel of St. Charles College.
After priestly ordination, Father Quinn taught at St. Charles College in 1926-1927. He made his Solitude in Catonsville in 1927-1928, and afterwards taught at St. Charles until 1931. In the same post-Solitude years, 1928 to 1931, he was in charge of Camp St. Mary’s in the Adirondacks. In 1931 he returned to The Catholic University of America, where he acted as Treasurer of Caldwell Hall while working in English towards an M.A. He received the degree in 1932.
From 1932 to 1941 Father Quinn was teaching at St. Edward’s Seminary in Seattle, Washington. Except for his last year there, he was also Treasurer. In 1941 he was appointed Socius of the Solitude at St. Mary’s Seminary, Paca Street. While at St. Mary’s he taught English and Speech to the seminarians up to 1944. In that year Father Quinn went to St. Patrick’s Seminary in San Francisco, California, where he again taught English and Speech and filled the roles of Master of Ceremonies and Spiritual Director. In 1959 he was transferred to St. Charles College. He taught French and English until his retirement in 1968. Father Quinn died on October 24, 1969.
Adapted from Father Quinn’s “Personal Data” sheet and from The Voice.