Edward J. Quirk

Be Prepared. Edward John Quirk Jr. (Ed) peacefully passed away on April 12, 2025, blanketed in his family’s love. Ed was born on December 22, 1940, to the late Edward J Quirk Sr. and Louise Jones Quirk. He was the beloved son-in-law of the late Frederick Hoxsie and Dorothy Lorraine Mackey Hoxsie. Besides his parents and in-laws, he was predeceased by his son, Edward “Eddie” Frederick Quirk and many dear family and friends.

On my honor, I will do my best. Family was central to Ed’s existence. He shared 60 years of marriage with his beloved wife and best friend, Joan Hoxsie Quirk. Joan was his steadfast companion on life’s journeys. Besides Joan, he leaves his three surviving children - Kathy (Rich) Shea, Lorrie Quirk (Jason Kovach) and Jennifer Quirk. The lights of his life, his granddaughters Rebecca Sykes-Quirk (Steven Boynton), Amanda Sykes-Quirk and grandsons Colton and Everett Quirk-Orowson waited every day for their Papa to come home. He would delight them with tea parties, history lessons and playing hair salon. Never afraid to drop the masculine act and put his pinky up to sip “tea” with his princesses. Colton and Everett would tell Pa every nuance of their lives while playing with trains, reading books about dragons, and digging in the backyard.  Ed also had much love for his bonus grandsons, Nicholas Shea and Ethan Kovach. Ed is also survived by Frederick and Barbara Hoxsie, his devoted brother and sister-in-law and their son Frederick 

To do my duty to God and my country. Education was a passion of Ed’s. He graduated from Boston College with a bachelor's degree followed by his masters and 6th year degrees from Southern Connecticut State University. He began teaching at Forest School in 1963, followed by teaching Science at Gianotti and Bailey Middle School. He and Joan played a key role in establishing the West Haven Federation of Teachers Union and Ed served for many years as the Executive Vice-President. Ed was one of West Haven’s first Teachers of the Year. He later taught 6th and 3rd grade at Thompson Elementary School. He spent his last year teaching ISS at Bailey Middle School, becoming a mentor to many students. Even after he retired, he continued his passion in education, substituting at West Haven High School, especially in the Tech Ed department, and instilled his passion for education in his daughters and granddaughter who continue in the profession.

To help others at all times. As a vigil member of the Order of the Arrow, he received the Silver Beaver in Scouting for his dedication and mentoring of thousands of scouts and the George Meaney AFL/CIO Scouter award for outstanding service to the community.  Other significant contributions to Scouting included leading expeditions to Philmont Scout Ranch and holding influential roles such as Scout Master and Order of the Arrow Lodge Advisor.  His whole family was involved with scouts, Joan partnered with Ed in every conceivable part including designing patches and researching for his books on Scouting and Camp Sequassen, His son Eddie achieved Eagle Scout, and daughter Kathy was the first female member of the Order of the Arrow in the Quinnipiac Council. The whole family spent countless weekends for Spring and Fall Fellowship and were part of his dedication to the scouts. Ed worked with a fellow scout leader to found the Quinnipiac Dancers and integrated authentic Native American traditions into Scouting rituals. He also started the Sequassen Alumni organization to keep former scouts included in camp activities.   His dedication to scouts had a profound far-reaching impact on numerous former scouts, many of whom remained close to him and his family throughout his life.

To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. Ed was a multifaceted person who was a history expert, loved antiquing and going to museums.  Every Saturday was spent tag saling with Jennifer and his crew of fellow bargain hunters. He was an expert at any topic and loved learning, teaching and mentoring every person he knew. Lorrie was his shadow, no matter what the activity, she was close behind. If you needed to know something about anything, you could just ask Ed, he always knew the answer. His contributions to keeping history alive in West Haven included as chairperson of the West Haven Bi-Centennial Committee where he planned a reenactment of the Battle of West Haven starting at Bradley Point and ending in New Haven. He spearheaded the efforts to maintain Campbell’s gravesite with yearly ceremonies led by his boy scout troop.

One of the many passions of their lives, Ed & Joan believed in travel. Together they traveled the world including many countries such as Egypt, Turkey, Norway and crossing the Panama Canal. Ed loved to explore the history and culture of many places and felt most at home in Ireland. Ed and Joan shared their love of travel with their family from camping in Canada, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine to multiple trips to Walt Disney World, starting in 1976. Every fall they would go alpine sledding and spend the summers at beaches in Rhode Island. When they traveled, the family would go for weeks to a location to learn about history, culture and to just have fun. One notable trip was a family cruise for Ed and Joan’s 50th Anniversary where the entire family enjoyed a week in the Caribbean. Later in life, they spent the summers in St. Petersburg Florida.

A celebration of Ed’s life will be held at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at the First Congregational Church, 34 West Main St., Milford, CT 06460. This gathering will honor a man whose life was well-lived, widely traveled and profoundly loved by those he touched throughout his storied journey. In lieu of flowers the family asks that any memorial donation in Ed’s name be made to PBS foundation.pbs.org, or Tunnel to Towers Foundation t2t.org.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Edward J. Quirk, please visit our Tree Store.