Pat Quinn

July 1^st, 1935 - November 23^rd, 2009

Toronto's Irish community has lost an icon that will live on fondly in our collective memories for many a day. Had he lived, Pat would have been 75 on Canada Day in a country that he loved dearly.

Words such as entrepreneur, raconteur, and impresario are certainly words one could always associate with Pat Quinn whether you made his acquaintance in Canada or in his native Ireland. Having had the pleasure of knowing Pat since his return to Canada in 1986, I will also add several more words to describe this 74 year old who never ceased to amaze people with his energy, his generosity and his joie de vivre.

I believe the entrepreneur in Pat certainly had a good role model in his father, Bernard, who retired from the Garda Siochana (Irish Police force) after a 20-year career and married Pat's mother, Anne McNamee who owned a Pub and Grocery in Cloone Co. Leitrim. Pat, who was born on July 1^st, 1935 was the eldest of six siblings - Fursey - Sligo, Mary now deceased, Fintan - Wicklow, Kevin - known as the Sheik of Sligo, Annette - Meath. To expand the business, his father bought a Bedford truck and started to deliver groceries and rations throughout Leitrim and the neighboring counties. On his travels, he bought eggs from the farmers, which he resold and eventually he decided to buy a hearse and become an undertaker as well. Pat still remembered his undertaker duties as a young boy. His main job was to write the names on the coffins - he even buried a few American Bishops. He was also in charge of ensuring that "the Wake" would not be short of any provisions such as snuff, white clay pipes, whiskey, ¼ Barrels of porter, Winter's Tale Sherry (for the ladies) and even some food items.

Having completed his Primary Certificate at Cloone National School, he headed for the Diocesan College in Longford, St. Mel's. All students at St. Mel's were regarded as prime candidates for the priesthood. Pat Quinn had other plans. Although' he achieved the status of Second Prefect, he became the students bookie, an art that he learned from his Grandfather. In 1952 he graduated from St. Mel's with an Honours Leaving Certificate.

In those days, the three plumb jobs in Ireland were, " The Civil Service, Guinness & Woolworth's", and how the country was run was written on the G.P.O. door - " Pull". Pat always had an interest in retail and after a few phone calls to the right people, Pat started as a Management Trainee at Woolworth's in Limerick at five pounds a week salary - the digs cost three pounds. After a five-year career, which took him to Woolworth's in Ballina, Galway and back to Limerick as Assistant Manager, Pat headed to Longford and opened the first Quinnsworth in Longford town, in partnership with his uncle.

His store was located just across the street from the Longford Arms hotel, which was owned by former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and his brother. By 1960, he had met the love of his life, Anne Blake from Ballyconnell, County Cavan, in the Roseland, Moate, one of Albert's Ballrooms of Romance.

They were married in 1961 and, setting sail from Cobh (the Port of Cork), they arrived in Montreal aboard the Sylvania. After a few weeks they moved to Toronto where Pat got a job at Eaton's on Queen Street where he was made Supervisor of the Pharmacy Department with a staff of forty. He gave up Eaton's after four months and joined the up and coming discount chain, Savette as Assistant General Manager at their Thorncliffe Park store. In 1962, Savette transferred Pat and his young family to London, Ontario as General Manager of their new store. For the next three years in London, Pat not only managed the store but also got into concert promotions where he met many of the big stars of the day. His shows included the Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, Diana Ross & the Supremes, The Beach Boys, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and The Clancy Brothers, to name a few.

By 1965, Pat had decided to return to Ireland where he became General Manager of H. Williams & Co., an eleven-store supermarket chain in Dublin. At this time, the concept of shopping centres was just coming to Ireland and there was a lot of skepticism as to their viability. When H. Williams decide not to participate in the new Stillorgan Centre just being built, entrepreneur Quinn decided this was his opportunity to go it on his own. Pat opened his first Quinnsworth in Dublin on December 1st, 1966. The official opening was carried out by then Taoiseach, Sean Lemass. The Pat Quinn legend had been born.