Edward J. Quinlan

Edward J. Quinlan, 75, of East Greenwich Rhode Island passed away peacefully at Kent Hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island on January 9, 2025, after a sudden illness. He was the deeply loved and devoted husband of Lisa Pelosi, and the proud father of son Jeffrey, who with wife Marissa gave him the joy of being called Grandpa Ed by grandchildren Huckleberry, Daisy Jo, Hank and Harrison, and of son Mark and his wife Bronwyn.

He also leaves behind a brother Gerard, his twin sister Irene and her husband Raymond Stevens, sister Barbara and her husband Timothy Patterson, nieces and a nephew, and Georgeanne Quinlan, the mother of his sons. He was the son of the late Edward and Irene Quinlan of Warwick, Rhode Island.

Ed’s long and distinguished professional career began and ended in health care; first at a hospital in North Miami, Florida after graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 1971, followed by a move home to work at Kent County Hospital in the 1970s and then the conclusion of his professional life as president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, retiring in 2014. In between his time in health care, he worked at Gilbane Building Company before accepting the extraordinary opportunity to serve as press secretary to US Senator John Chafee, a man he deeply admired and respected. Once again, following his heart, he left Capitol Hill to work in professional hockey for the Washington Capitals.

He was an avid sports fan who most enjoyed his time spent at hockey rinks and on the golf course with longtime memberships held at Warwick Country Club and Potowomut Golf Club.

Today, the world feels a bit dimmer without seeing the sparkle in his eyes and hearing a funny quip from his lips. Forever proud of his Irish heritage, we offer this wish to our dearest Ed: "May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Relatives and Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 14th  at 10:00 at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third Street, East Greenwich. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, East Greenwich. Calling hours: Monday, January 13th  from 4-7pm in the Hill – Skeffington Funeral Home, 822 Main Street, East Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Ed’s memory to the University of Rhode Island. Checks can be made payable to the URI Foundation and Alumni Engagement, PO Box 1700, Kingston, RI 02881, with a note in the memo line, or you can make a secure gift online by visiting urifae.org.