Michael Chevalier Quaid, formerly of Linden, died on January 1, 2015, at Brandywine Hospital in Brandywine, PA.
Mike’s Life Celebration and visitation will be from 3:00-8:00PM, Monday January 5th, at Gray Funeral Directors, 12 Springfield Avenue, Cranford. His funeral mass will begin at 9:30AM Tuesday January 6, 2015, at St. Michael Catholic Church, Cranford. Entombment will follow in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery, Colonia. To view a tribute of Mike’s life, and to leave condolences, please go to: www.grayfuneralhomes.com.
Mr. Quaid was born in South Amboy, NJ, in 1926, moving to Linden, NJ, in 1929 where he remained until 2001. Recently he shared his time between homes in West Brandywine, PA, and Sun City Center, FL. He was a 1944 graduate of Linden High School, serving as Senior Class president. He was one of two in the class to pass a national exam and be sent by the US Navy to college and trained as a Naval officer. He served in the Navy from 1944-1946, receiving his commission upon graduating from Tufts University in 1947 with a BA in Liberal Arts.
He was active in sports during his college and Service years, earning a varsity letter for football, playing JV baseball, and contributing as a member of the ATO fraternity intramural basketball championship team. After graduation, Mr. Quaid went to work for Macy’s Department Store in Newark, followed by five years as a Credit Analyst at Dun& Bradstreet, where he met his beloved wife of 47 years, Marion Barbara Wempa, of Newark, who predeceased him in 1999.Mr. Quaid retired from Benjamin Moore & Co., on January 1, 1992, after 38 years. He held a variety of financial, sales, marketing, and general management positions, retiring as Executive Vice President. He became a Director in 1973 and remained so until 1998, last serving as Chairman of the Audit Committee. He also held various industry positions on a regional and national level and was named an Industry Statesman in 1991.
In 2000, he reunited with his high school sweetheart, Jean Zanetti, who he married the following year. Jean remains a resident of Brandywine, PA.He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and from 1971 to 2001 a member of Roselle Golf Club. He loved to golf and to travel, combining both to play such courses as St. Andrews, Scotland, Pine Valley, Pebble Beach, and a memorable round at Augusta National. At his death he was a member of Falcon Watch Golf Club in Sun City Center, FL.
He is survived by four children: Michael S., Williston, VT, a Professional Engineer and a several-term member of the Vermont legislature; Dr. Kimberly de Cordon, Indianapolis, IN, a Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN; Todd Q. Ciemniecki, Cranford, NJ, Director at BlackRock Inc; Courtney Mullane, M.A.R.D., Bloomfield, NJ, Educator in the Bloomfield School District, and five grandchildren: Sabrina, Claire, Sofia, Mark, and Quaid.