William Bill Quigley Jr.

William "Bill" G. Quigley Jr. died peacefully surrounded by his family Sunday, October 22, 2006 at his home in Chestertown, Maryland after a long illness. Mr. Quigley is survived by his wife, Patricia Molloy, and by his four children from a previous marriage, William and his wife, Susannah of South Lyon, Michigan, Patrick and his companion, Karen Watts of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Paul of Honesdale, Pennsylvania and Theresa and her companion, Doug Drewyor of Romeo, Michigan. Bill is also survived by six grandchildren; two sisters, Carol of Detroit, Michigan and Mary of Flint, Michigan and one brother, Ray of Dexter, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his brother John (Jack). Mr. Quigley was born on March 3, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of the late William and Catherine McIntyre Quigley. Upon the death of his mother, he was raised by his father’s second wife, the late Agnes Phelan. He attended the University of Michigan and received his B.A. in public administration from Wayne State University in 1958. He also served in the Air Force National Guard. Later in his career, Mr. Quigley completed Harvard’s Advanced Management Program. A 34-year veteran of General Motors Public Relations Staff, Bill began with the Fisher Body Division of General Motors Corporation as a field representative for the Craftsman’s Guild in 1958. He moved to a position with Oldsmobile Public Relations for the GM Public Relations staff in 1985. He retired from General Motors in 1992 as Executive in Charge of Corporate Communications and continued working for the next few years for a leading Detroit public relations agency until his complete retirement. In addition to his professional career, Bill took great pride in operating the family farm in Dexter, Michigan. He spent many enjoyable days working in the fields and helping his children raise livestock for the local 4-H competitions. In 1998, Mr. Quigley and his wife retired to Chestertown, Maryland where he became an active volunteer with the Senior Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a national organization that provides advice and support to small businesses. He also served as a board member of Chesapeake Fields, an organization committed to preserving the farmlands of the Eastern Shore. Early in his life, Mr. Quigley had spent as much time as possible on the family farm in Dexter, Michigan. His pride and joy were his many John Deere tractors. In his retirement in Chestertown, he resumed his passion for working on the land, both his own and his neighbors. His passions were his family, his trucks and tractors, his boats, and his dogs. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Bill Quigley is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 27, at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions go to Chester River Home Care and Hospice, 6602 Church Hill Road, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 or the Humane Society of Kent County, P.O. Box 352, Chestertown, Maryland 21620.