John Edward McQuillan

Jack was born on Staten Island to Catherine and Joseph McQuillan and lived in West Brighton until 2000, when he moved with his wife Janet to Millbrook, New York. He attended Sacred Heart School, Curtis High School, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science from the New York Institute of Technology.

Jack built his career around a life of service. After high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served overseas in Japan and the Philippines. Shortly after his discharge, he joined the New York City Police Department, where he served for 34 years. He retired as a Detective Sargeant after serving many of those years as the Commanding Officer for the Staten Island District Attorney’s Detective Squad.

Jack was a lifelong avid fisherman and loved spending time on the lakes in the Adirondacks. Later in life, he would pursue a lifelong passion for flying, earning his private pilot's license. He was also an avid reader and had a tremendous affinity for history. He had a natural ability to retain information which proved beneficial as a detective but also allowed him to earn the title of the family storyteller. Jack possessed a deep faith that strengthened his tenacity in coping with the many medical issues he suffered later in life. He never complained and would greet everyone with a cheerful disposition.

Jack is predeceased by his parents, Catherine and Joseph McQuillan. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janet, and their four children, Karen Butta and husband Gregory of Millbrook, New York, Matthew McQuillan of Branchburg, New Jersey, Mary Walsh and husband Robert of Avon By The Sea, New Jersey, and Mark McQuillan and wife Pilar of Boulder, Colorado. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Thomas Butta, Teresa Butta, Madeline Butta, Robert Walsh, John Walsh, Nora Walsh, Markus Prostko, and Emma Prostko, and three great-grandchildren, Logan Butta, Sienna Butta, and Amara Haass. He is also survived by his dear sisters Ellen O’Malley of Lakewood, NJ, and Ann Ferrie and husband William of Brick, New Jersey. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends, many of whom were lifelong.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, New York, 10310. Family and friends will be received on Monday, December 26, from 3 pm-7 pm. Funeral Mass, Tuesday at 11 am, Sacred Heart Church, 981 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, New York, 10310, followed by burial at St. Peter's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation https://t2t.org/ would be greatly appreciated.