Albert Frank Quinlan, Jr.
Albert Quinlan Jr. (Bert) passed away peacefully on June 9th, surrounded by family in Door County. He was born in St. Louis in 1947 as the third child of Mickey and Albert Quinlan, with eight siblings following him. He was a man of all trades, but prided himself on having fun. Bert spent his summers in Whitefish Bay with his brothers and sisters, and he cherished Door County, choosing to spend his final days there. With the help of his siblings, in-laws, nieces, and nephews, Bert enjoyed one last great summer in a place he loved. During that time, he fished, took a plane ride around Door County, attended a Packers game, discovered his love for art, and became quite skilled at flying drones. A special thank you to Bert's caretaker, Shelly Defere, who was truly Bert's best friend and fishing companion. A lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, Bert attended many World Series games with his brothers Mike, Bill, John, and Tom. He loved sharing everything Packers with his nephew Jack. He was a beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews, often sharing stories of his adventures from the 1960s. His family eagerly anticipated his visits to Door County, never knowing what gadgets he would bring along. He loved giving his grandnephew/niece small gifts. Bert was an all-around athlete. He loved to golf and play ball, but sailing was his true passion. He sailed the Melges E-Scow while living in Madison and spent countless hours sailing with his brother Mike in Whitefish Bay. Bert spent time sailing in France with his sister Pat. Every year, he joined his brothers to attend the Indy 500, a race their father loved. In 1965, Bert was honored with the Carnegie Hero Award for rescuing a driver from a burning car in St. Louis, showcasing his heroism. Bert was also a fan of Bob Dylan, much to his father's chagrin. He often quoted a line from Bob's 1968 song, "Wanted Man," which was initially written for Johnny Cash: "I've had all that I wanted of a lot of things I've had." Albert's family would like to thank the fantastic staff at Serenity Springs and Unity Hospice for their loving care. He will be profoundly missed.
