MERIDEN, Conn. – John Day Quine, 76, beloved husband of Sandy Whalen Quine, died Feb. 2, 2011, surrounded by his wife and daughters at his home, after a brief battle with leukemia. He was born Feb. 10, 1934, in Bangor, to Marion Day Quine and James Patrick Quine.
He was a graduate of John Bapst High School, a 1956 graduate of College of the Holy Cross and received his master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Haven. He met his wife, Sandy, on a blind date at a Holy Cross football game. After graduation they married and moved to Kansas with the Air Force, where he piloted B-47 jet bombers as an officer in the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War. In 1961 he moved to Connecticut to work for Utica Mutual, Xerox Corp. and later started Quine Printing, Inc. Coming from a politically active family, he soon followed in their footsteps. His grandfather, Albert Rufus Day, was mayor of Bangor and president of the Maine Senate. His father, James Patrick Quine, served as a state representative. John was elected mayor of the city of Meriden and served on the city council for many years. Gov. Thomas Meskill appointed him to the Tri-State Regional Planning Commission. John served the city of Meriden in many capacities, including chairman of the conservation commission, public works, economic development committee, finance board, zoning board and planning board. He was chairman of the Republican Town Committee and was active with Meriden Rotary, Meriden Chamber of Commerce, Meriden Economic Development Commission, as well as other civic organizations. Each summer he and Sandy returned to his beloved state of Maine to his simple cottage on Molasses Pond, where they observed the loons, eagles, ospreys, summer rainbows and the stars. They hosted family and friends for outdoor adventures and toasting marshmallows. An avid outdoorsman and hunter, he was a member of Ducks Unlimited and Appalachian Mountain Club. He climbed Mount Katahdin, skied every mountain, and canoed and kayaked every river in New England teaching his family the wonders of nature.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sandy Whalen Quine; his daughters, Catherine and husband, Christopher Carter, of Old Lyme, Conn., Laura and husband, David Carter, of Darien, Conn., and Lisa and husband, Warren Brini, of Hingham, Mass.; his grandchildren, Margaretta and John Carter, Milo and Beatrix Carter, and Michael and Jake Brini; his brother, James Albert Quine and his wife, Thecla, of Bangor; and his faithful dog, Lulu. He was predeceased by his son, Michael John Quine.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, at John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 East Main St., Meriden, Conn. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at St. Mary Church, Church Street, Meriden, Conn. Private burial will be Monday, Feb. 14, at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bangor. Donations may be made to College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St., Worcester, MA 01610.
www.jferryfh.com