Pete Quinn Remembered at Annual IAUC Literary Brunch, by Liz Nissen

New York Times columnist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Jim Dwyer may have been the featured guest speaker at this year’s annual Literary Brunch sponsored by Chapters 5 and 9 of the Irish American Unity Conference at its usual venue: the Tenafly, NJ Elks Club. However, the occasion really belonged to a man from County Donegal, the late Peter Quinn, who passed away on March 3, 2008.

Special tributes to Pete’s memory and works included the reading of a NJ State Senate proclamation of Peter Quinn Day, arranged by State Senator Sean T. Kean, and a letter from NJ Governor John Corzine. Pete’s wife, Mary, and family members took center stage, as long-time and newer friends recognized Pete’s tireless work on behalf of the Irish causes he held so dear (none more so than the IAUC’s goal of justice and peace in a reunited Ireland, of course). Anecdotes about Pete’s trademark humor filled the personal reminiscences. You could almost hear rolling off Pete’s tongue, the joke he made at last year’s brunch that “There are three Peter Quinns in the room at the same time” in referring to the guest speaker Peter Quinn (the writer), Pete’s son (Peter E. Quinn), and the ever genial himself. Malachy McAllister, who had spread the word about Pete’s tribute to the Bronx and beyond, recalled Pete’s early encouragement to him.

Speaking to a crowd that filled the hall, guest speaker Jim Dwyer shared his first-hand observations as a correspondent in Iraq just before the outbreak of the war. He also talked about the importance of having passion for the causes in which we believe, and referred to the late Pete Quinn as an example of how to channel that passion.

Kevin Barry, long time friend of the 5th & 9th chapter and a trustee of the National Irish American Unity Conference, was the master of ceremonies for this very special event. His presence kept the afternoon flowing smoothly.

Pete’s son, who has been the chef for this all-you-can-eat brunch for several years, this year featuring Irish soda bread and brown bread baked by his mother, Mary Quinn, pledged that the Quinn family would continue its involvement, knowing how much it meant to Pete to see the Bergen County IAUC chapter continue. That promise of more such annual fundraisers to come was very good news, given the grand time had by all.