Lawrence M. Quigley, age 96, passed away Sept. 10, 2023, at his residence in Tinton Falls, proving he did not have a deal with the Devil after all. He lived a long, full life, on his terms.
Known as Larry or “Quig” to his many friends and colleagues, he was a longtime Fair Haven resident and fixture at Nauvoo Grill, where he and his friends held court twice a week for as long as any could remember. By his own admission, he was fond of the grape and a true character.
Larry will be dearly missed by all who knew him, loved him and respected him.
He was known for his intellectual curiosity, quick wit, sense of humor, loyalty, generosity – though frugal himself – and irreverence. He was not noted for his patience, nor tolerance of fools, who he insisted were never in short supply. Larry lived by the W.C. Fields’ quip, “Any man who hates dogs and babies can’t be all bad.”
A native of Wisconsin, he had a special fondness for the UW Badgers, Green Bay Packers, wild rice, bratwurst and his favorite city, Madison. Early in life, Larry was an avid duck hunter, skeet, and trap shooter. He was an enthusiastic traveler, loving Europe and Amsterdam in particular; was passionate about film and photography and was a lover of rock music. The Beatles and Pink Floyd were favorites.
Larry possessed a deep sense of civic duty instilled by his father. This was exemplified by over 14 years of service to Fair Haven, on the zoning board of adjustment, the planning board, the historic preservation commission, chairing the first communications committee, among others, and advising mayors, administrators, council members, attorneys and staff with his expertise. His mother, the daughter of a “prairie populist” newspaper editor, instilled in him his political liberalism.
Lawrence Murray Quigley was born Feb. 7, 1927, to Lawrence D. Quigley, a surgeon, and Eleanor (Murray) Quigley, a housewife. Though born Catholic, he was no fan of organized religion. He graduated from Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, the best school he ever attended, he proclaimed, and was immediately drafted for military service in World War II. With Japan’s surrender while he was in training to drive an invasion force tank, he was sent to Casablanca as part of the U.S. Army Air Force, where military duty was not arduous. He served as a U.S. Army artillery officer in the reserves during the Korean War, after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the UW Law School.
Oddly, Larry became a sales rep, first for Marathon Paper Co., which transferred him to the New York City area, then for White Cap, a division of Continental Can Co. His job, though, did not define him: He once told his boss work was getting in the way of his social life.
One of his proudest moments was passing the New Jersey bar exam to become an attorney. He then practiced law as a hobby. Prior to that, he was an early member of the Monmouth County chapter of the ACLU and its support of the Civil Rights movement.
Larry was predeceased by his parents, his brother Richard, and his daughter Anne Quigley. His survivors include his wife, Marian Gregory Quigley; his sister Jane Stevenson (Bob); his children, Susan McDonald (Lou) of Monmouth Beach, Tim Quigley (Brenda Ewert) of Seattle, Nancy Mogavero (Bill) of Whiting, and son-in-law Mike Rich of Monmouth Beach; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of traditional remembrances, his family asks with gratitude that donations be made to Parker Family Health Center, 211 Shrewsbury Ave., Red Bank, NJ 07701.
A Memorial Gathering was held Sept. 17 at the Holmdel Funeral Home, Holmdel.
For messages of condolence, or to share a favorite memory of Lawrence, please visit his page of tribute at holmdelfuneralhome.com.
This article originally appeared in the September 21 – 27, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
