Ronald Quinn of Shinnecock died on July 5 at his home. Fondly known as Ron, Uncle Ron Ron, Spliff or Bill, he was 52.
Born January 15, 1957, in The Bronx to Genevieve Quinn-Carle and Herman Quinn of the Shinnecock Reservation, he was educated in the Southampton School District. On November 1, 1975, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and on August 31, 1976, he was honorably discharged with the good conduct medal.
Upon his return from the service, he moved to Philadelphia and then Rhode Island before moving back home to Shinnecock. In addition to working as a painter for Brookhaven National Laboratory, he also worked for Mark Press Moving & Storage, the Shinnecock Shellfish Hatchery, Shinnecock Powwow Security and numerous other jobs.
An avid poet, he wrote many poems for family and friends. On September 13, 2000, Poetry’s Elite, the Best of Poets of 2000, asked permission to feature a poem he wrote, “Do You Hear” in their collection of poems and in January 2001 he was nominated “Poet of the Year” and personally invited to read his poetry in Maryland.
In his down time, he traveled the country with Philip D. Brown IV, attending every powwow in the Northeast. During one of his travels in 1983, he stopped along the way to help tornado victims rebuild their houses in West Memphis, Arkansas. And whenever traveling from state to state, he always took the opportunity to visit nearby family members.
According to survivors, Mr. Quinn had a big heart and loved everyone; he was always smiling and loved his nieces and nephews as if they were his own children. “We love and will miss him, now that he’s gone to the Great Spirit in the sky, and his pain and suffering is over,” one family member said this week.
He is survived by his stepfather, Gary Carle Sr.; a sister, Donna Eleazer; and four brothers, Herman Quinn, Clay Carle, Grant Carle and Gary Carle, all of Shinnecock; three aunts, Alyce Hunter, Bessie Marshall and Catherine Bosley, all of Shinnecock; two uncles, Ralph Eleazer and his wife Flora of Shinnecock and John Running Deer Eleazer of New Jersey; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.
He is also survived by a very special friend, Janet Terry of Shinnecock, and another special person, Lisa Brown of Rhode Island.
He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Gerald Quinn.
Visitation was held on July 9 at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton. A funeral service was held July 10 at Shinnecock Presbyterian Church, with officiated the Reverend Michael Smith officiating. Interment was at Shinnecock Cemetery with full military honors. Acting as pallbearers were Keith Arrindell Sr., Curtis Crippen, Alton Dennis, Eric Holgrin, Derek Reed Sr. and James Weeks. Honorary pallbearers included Philip Brown IV, John Perry, Edward Terry, Arthur T. Williams Jr., Harry Williams and Mitchell D. Williams Sr.
on Jul 15, 2009