Former Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, of Dorchester and Cataumet, died suddenly, January 12, 2014. He was 85. Beloved husband of Claudina C. (Pyne). Loving father of Andrea Q. and her husband Ralph Bernardo of Rockville, MD, Michael J. Quinn of Norwood, Elaina M. Quinn and her husband Alan Aikens of Dorchester, and Stephanie M. and her husband Robert Fallon of Milton. Brother of Catherine M. Keating of Hyde Park, and the late Frank J., John M., James E., William L., and Joseph I. Quinn. Devoted grandfather of Annabel, Ralph, and Patrick Bernardo, India and Quentin Aikens, Henry and Nora Fallon. Survived by many nieces and nephews. Partner of Quinn and Morris, Attorneys at Law, Trustee of New England School of Law, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of University of Massachusetts, member of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, member of the Order of Malta and Knights of Columbus, Columbus Council #116.
Quinn served in the state House of Representatives from 1957 until 1969, the last two years as Speaker. His gave his name to the Quinn Bill, which gives police with college degrees higher pay. He was attorney general from 1970 until 1974, when he lost in the Democratic primary for governor to Michael Dukakis. Former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn called Quinn a “political leader of intelligence and integrity … remembered for his decency and commitment to fairness and rule of the law.”
