John A. Quadrini

John Quadrini of North Kingstown, R.I. died Dec. 27, 2018 after a lifetime of devoted family, enduring friendship and the memories that continue through both.

John died of heart failure while visiting New York City with family. He was 80.

An accomplished engineer, his work on spacecraft extended our understanding of the cosmos; his work on military aircraft and submarines helped safeguard his country’s national security through the height of the Cold War.

John was born in Port Chester, New York, to Philip and Mary (Pulgini) Quadrini. He grew up in Westchester County where he played trombone in his school marching bands and community orchestras.

He earned engineering degrees at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and after graduation served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He later taught at his alma mater as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering before embarking on a career with major American engineering companies.

John was married for 30 years to the late Gail (Maron) Quadrini, with whom he raised their two children Michael and Renee on Long Island.  Widowed in 1997, he married again in 2001 to Mary (McLaren) Quadrini, his wife for his final 17 years.

For nearly three decades, John worked for the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. (later Grumman Aerospace Corp.). He contributed to the development of NASA’s Orbiting Astronomical Observatory spacecraft, a project that paved the way for the Hubble Space Telescope. While with Grumman, he designed avionics equipment for the F-14 Tomcat, the A-6A Intruder and the E-2C Hawkeye aircraft for the U.S. Navy.

Later in his career, working for General Dynamics, he became principal engineer at Electric Boat, leading engineering teams working on the Navy’s Virginia nuclear-powered submarine class.

After retirement, John was a volunteer for South County Habitat for Humanity, where he and his beloved Labrador retriever Buddy were a familiar sight around the group’s ReStore in Charlestown.

John is survived by his wife Mary; his twin sister Phyllis Trottier; his son  Michael Quadrini and daughter-in-law Dawn Quadrini; his daughter Renee Quadrini; his grandson Matthew Quadrini; and his stepsons Ian McNulty and Colin McNulty.

Funeral services are private. Calling hours are Friday, 5-7 p.m., at Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island, 1540 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, RI 02920.