Charles Sylvester Quinn, Jr

NEWPORT ? Captain Charles Sylvester Quinn, Jr., USN Retired, husband of Nancy Elliot Dennis Quinn, answered his call to Eternal Life on Sunday, October 9, 2011, Newport, RI.Born in Brooklyn, NY on June 12, 1921, he was the son of the late Charles Sylvester Quinn of NY and Mary Dennison King Quinn from Belfast, Northern Ireland.Captain Quinn retired from the Navy in 1965. He started his Naval career in 1941 as an Ensign in the Naval Reserves, after completing two years at Queens College. He transferred to the regular Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1945. He commanded a Destroyer, USS W.R. Rush DDR 714 and a destroyer division DES DIV 102 here in Newport. He had the honor of taking his destroyer division, with the USS J.P. Kennedy Jr. DD 850 as his flagship, to Washington, DC for the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in 1960. In WWII, Captain Quinn was awarded a letter of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for a night action against a surfaced U-boat while he was an Armed Guard Commander aboard a merchant ship.Captain Quinn held a BS degree from the University of Maryland, an MAT degree in history from Rhode Island College and an MAT degree in German from Brown University. He taught history and German at Rogers High School in Newport from 1966 to 1985.Charlie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Newport, serving there in many capacities. He was a member of the Coaster Harbor Navy Yacht Club where he was a sailing instructor. He was also a member of the Newport Ski Club, the Society of Friends of Touro Synagogue, the American Legion and the Redwood Library. He enjoyed time volunteering in the public elementary schools and the John Clarke Retirement Center.In addition to his wife, he leaves his former wife, Dorothy Carr Quinn of Newport and his brother John D. Quinn of Hampton Bay, NY. His sister Evelyn Drennan predeceased him.Also he leaves his daughter Charlene Dunn of Carolina, RI and three sons, Charles S. Quinn III of Warwick, RI, Mark R. Quinn of Newport and Christopher J. Quinn of Hemet, CA. His son, Matthew J. Quinn predeceased him in 2007. He also leaves ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He leaves four stepsons David C. Dennis and Kevin J. Dennis of Middletown, RI, Brian J. Dennis of Foster, RI and Allan M. Dennis of Tiverton, RI and seven step grandchildren. He also leaves his cousins, nieces, nephews and countless other relatives and friends who were a very special part of his life.A memorial service will be held at twelve O?clock noon at the First Presbyterian Church, Broadway at Equality Park 6 Everett Street Newport, RI on Thursday, October 13, 2011.In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Charlie?s memory to: Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties, Hospice Program, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871 or to The Deacon?s Fund at First Presbyterian Church, 6 Everett Street, Newport, RI 02840.