Charles Francis Quinn II

Charles Francis Quinn II, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, in Middletown, DE from an inoperable brain tumor. 

Charles was the son of the late Charles Francis Quinn and Veronica Davis Quinn of Philadelphia, PA and Ventnor, NJ. He was born in 1933 and grew up in the Logan area of Philadelphia and the beaches of Ventnor, NJ. Charles attended Holy Child Elementary school and served as an altar boy, once with Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen. He went to St. Joseph’s Prep, St. Joseph’s University and then was awarded a scholarship to University of Pennsylvania Law school. Charles served as Private 1st class in the US Army on active reserve for 6 years at the time of the Korean war and was proud to be selected to carry the heavy Browning Automatic Rifle. He was an attorney and eventually a partner in his own practice in Philadelphia. Setting legal precedents, he was published in the Duquesne Law review.

For most of his professional career, Charles worked as a trial lawyer. After retiring from law at a young age, he pursed many interests and skills, even acting on stage and in TV and films! Later in life, Charles published articles on topics of politics, thoroughbred race horses, and UFOs. He was most proud of his research and cooperation with experts on the Shroud of Turin. Charles was keenly interested in the intersection of science and religion. He taught at Widener University on topics that varied from Celebrity Justice, Constitutional Law, and existence of Extraterrestrial life. In his retirement, Charles volunteered to counsel prisoners and for animal care groups and he was a docent for exhibits at the Chase Center at Wilmington Waterfront. Yes…. he truly was The Most Interesting Man!

In 1964, he married Sandra Rueda Quinn and together, they had 3 children: Allison, Chad, and Deirdre. They started their married life in Huntington Valley, PA and lived in Rydal, PA, Chadds Ford, PA, and most recently in Middletown, DE. Charles was delighted to be a “Popsy” to his 8 grandchildren.

An outdoorsman and history buff, Charles’s favorite activities were world travel, reading, music, making family films, movies, skiing, golfing, nature walks and horseback riding on the Wissahickon Trail, biking the Jersey shore boardwalk, and kayaking. A true animal lover, he cherished his relationships with his cats and dogs over the years and generously supported endangered species and animal rescue organizations.

In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his “ever-lovin’” sister, Vera Quinn Donnelly; and in childhood, sisters Joan and Margie. He is survived by his loving wife, Sandra Rueda Quinn; children; Allison Quinn Girone (Steve), “Chad” Charles F. Quinn III (Patricia Markey), and Deirdre Quinn Karns (Brett); and 8 grandchildren, William Girone (Maria Wendt), Benjamin Girone (Alyssa Hermann), John Girone, Anne Girone, Charlotte “Charlie IV” Quinn, Kendall Quinn, Whitney Rose Quinn, and Morgan Ashley Karns.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:30 am until 10:30 am Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine R.C. Church, 10 Old Church Road, Greenville, DE, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30. Face coverings will be required for all those in attendance not immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine per the Governor of Delaware. Interment will follow in the church cemetery onsite.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Charles’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, online by clicking here; Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, online by clicking here; or Castaways Cats Delaware, online by clicking here.