William Quimby

A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM DANFORTH QUIMBY
William Danforth Quimby passed away on September 27, 2014 two days before his 89th birthday. Mr. Quimby was born on September 29, 1925 in Manchester, NH, to William Don Quimby and Anna Marie Cedar Quimby.
Bill resided for many years on Boston’s North Shore, Bedford, NH, and for the past 16 years in Pagosa Springs, CO. He served as a US Navy Corpsman in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After a 2 year engagement Bill married Gloria W. Chamberlain on March 12, 1949 at her home in Alton, NH. For 65 ½ years their partnership and their bond held together through all that life had to offer. Their union gave the world 3 remarkable daughters:
Cheryl Ann Quimby Mahen; her husband, James Louis Mahen, Jr.
Candace Lynn Quimby Bach; her husband, Gilbert Joseph Bach
Kimberly Jayne Quimby-Bishop; her husband, Stuart Whitney Bishop
Nine Grandchildren and eleven+ Great Grandchildren
This remarkable family is Bill’s legacy to the world. It was built on trust, caring, sharing, teaching, encouraging, believing in their abilities, celebrating their successes and always being there through the tough times and the good times. The family celebrated their father’s and grandfather’s life before his death.
Tributes to Bill from his children and grandchildren:
“Dad was a man of many virtues. He was brightly warm and gently human, intelligent, had a ready wit, was eloquent and was unshakeable in his integrity. When I picture dad, I picture his smile, (a grin actually)… he was always ready for a laugh. Dad was admired for his limitless wisdom on so many subjects… an avid reader and student yet always the professor. I remain in awe of him…”
***************
“Bill was a man for all seasons. He was neither a liberal nor a conservative, not judgmental or completely accepting. But more openly Socratic in that he was always questioning the common wisdom and intensely interested in absorbing other views. One of the most interesting men I’ve ever met.”
***************
“Grampy, to me, had a contagious laugh and a sense of humor that surrounded his family and brought us all closer together. His intellect made for thought provoking discussions; some of the most interesting and involved conversations I’ve had in my entire 38 years, up to and including our last words together. He helped shape all of us in different ways, but to me he was the professor that drove many of my childhood and adult interests. My love of reading is linked to his history, his stories, and his many literary selections.”
***************
"Grampy wore many hats. Early on, he was an anticipated visitor, a Santa Claus. An instigator, and a partner in crime. Often an endearing clown, and once a kindergarten show-and-tell exhibit. For a time, a ghost-writer of letters from our stateside dog. Later, he became a raconteur and a genealogist. An immersed librarian, and a family room philosopher. An erudite professor, and a witty satirist. A ski bum’s advocate, and a stoic vision of my future self. To me, Grampy always was a bright and elated greeting, beaming with pride, fascinated, caring, and engaging. Because he was all of this, Grampy will always be in our memories, our stories, our legends, and our hearts. He is deeply missed, and very loved. Godspeed Grampy, and thank you for being so much."
***************
“We loved Grampy very much and are so happy we got to see him and hear more stories on our last trip. Some of my fondest memories are sitting around your kitchen table after a long day of skiing and just laughing and sharing stories.”
***************
“A few words about what Grampy was: He was the crazy grandpa that showed his love by making us laugh. From convincing us that pigs were better (and definitely smarter) than dogs, to acting like an orangutan. We could talk about anything, because he knew how to make a subject light and palatable, usually at the expense of things nobody likes…like politicians. And all while his antics and wit were making me laugh. I could be a thousand miles away and feel like I was on the other side of the coffee table talking to him.”
***************
“I will forever be in awe of Grampy's insatiable appetite for knowledge. He was constantly reading, watching, listening and consuming information and we were all fortunate enough to benefit from his endless wisdom. I credit him with my love of history and literature. He was able to show me on so many occasions that being informed is a privilege not to be squandered. On the flip side, he could always make me laugh. He was always ready to crack a joke, quote the Simpsons, or talk about the nobility of a pig. I'll never forget him calling me 'Scoop'-- a name that has become one of my favorite endearments—and our endless conversations about Northwestern, the state of the media and learning from him about my own career choice. He was truly, the most interesting man in the world and I am so grateful to have had him in my life for 25 years."
****************
“I have a lifetime of beautiful memories running through my mind. There have been so many wonderful conversations, all of which have imparted wisdom and compassion. You taught me how to love unconditionally, understand, accept and forgive. I learned to open my mind and to not judge others. From you I learned how to nurture and teach my own children these values, which are such an important part of your legacy, Dad. Thank you for loving and teaching me so very well.”
***************
“Grampy was as strong as he was sensitive. Grampy loved living close to the land. He could cut down a tree, plane and sand the wood to make the start of a project. I smile at his thoughtfulness, ingenuity and creativity as he taught me to work with the grain of the wood, carefully cutting and sanding so as to not splinter the functional work of art that we were creating together… His respect for nature never led him to domesticate an animal; instead he befriended animals in nature. He admitted to feeding squirrels and mocking jays, but I suspect he may have fed a bear or two, as well…Grampy derived joy from a lifetime of learning. He knew what he didn’t know and pursued educational opportunities with a passion. Economics, politics and history nourished his intellectual mind. Grammar, word play and the enjoyment of a clever pun indulged his playful side. He inspired my passion for learning and teaching…Most of all, he modeled a partnership with you and showed us that the strongest foundation for love is friendship. You shared your hobbies with one another and took care of one another even through the most difficult times. Your love is emulated by all.”
***************
“These are memories of Grampy that I will keep forever:
Him bringing me to the golf range in Bedford, NH…Every time I play golf I think of the day on the range with him watching…He and I shooting at tin cans in the back yard with the BB gun. This was my first time with a firearm. When I bring my son to the range with me I remember him showing me how to shoot correctly….Cutting up trees and how I was always told to control the chain saw so it would not kick back. Saw safety is a big part of why I have all my limbs today…The day-long trip to Battleship Cove and how he told us stories about how crews lived and dealt with life at sea. My son and I went there, and I told him all I could remember from that day…Grampy, in my eyes, was always a role model of how to serve your county and how to make a career out of it. In my heart he is a war veteran of one of the largest campaigns. I am always thrilled to tell my friends about my grandfather who lived thru the hell of the Pacific Theater as a Corpsman. I cherish these memories forever. This is a time to celebrate his life. I love him for who he was, my Grampy “Q”.”
***************
“Dad was my champion. He never failed in giving me the advice or answer I was seeking. He was unrelenting with his ethics but so open to others. He was an amazing person, parent, grandparent, great grandparent, uncle and friend. He had an uncanny ability to make every person in his life feel valued. I will feel this loss forever. My greatest wish and hope is that we who are left behind will take this wonderful person’s legacy and pay it forward.”
***************
“When I think about my grandfather, some of my favorite memories include the stories he would tell me. My grandfather was an engaging and talented storyteller. Like all good storytellers, the particular stories he chose to share with me and others would change to reflect the audience. When I was young, I remember energetic stories accompanied by goofy faces (and usually his wonderful Santa Claus beard). When he moved to Colorado, and I was able to get to know him better, he helped me know my east coast families—my cousins, aunts, uncles and a myriad of relations I had never met (alive and deceased). All of them were a part of him and Gram, mom and me, and our family. Preparing for and throughout college, his stories focused on his own lifelong education. In adulthood, I learned so much about him and Gram, their life together, through the stories he would tell. During visits, Adam and I would find ourselves prompting him to tell the same stories we heard before, our favorites, because we enjoyed hearing them, and we hoped he enjoyed sharing them with us.”
***************
“I will say this: Grampy was a Renaissance man in every sense of the word. He loved opera music, language, and literature to name a few. Simultaneously he loved tools and new, useful and creative gadgets. He was meticulous in his research. I digress. He never limited himself to one type of knowledge or hobby. Most people are lucky to figure out one thing to be passionate about, but Grampy was rare and unique in that he would not allow himself to stop learning and creating. I miss him, like all of the family, and like all of them I am truly grateful to have been a part of Grampy’s life.”
***************
“Bill’s favorite room was his library; where he felt he was among friends. He was in awe of all of the genius and great minds of historians, economists, humorists and artists that surrounded him. It will be a lonely room without him.”
***************
“Our future generations will know from whence they came.”
Anyone wanting to pay tribute to Bill’s memory can contribute to:
University of Washington Medicine Center For Cancer Innovation
http://cci.washington.edu/#1
Checks can be payable to UW Foundation. Please have donors indicate that the gifts are in memory of William Quimby and that the funds are to go to Center for Cancer Innovation Fund. This can be written in the memo section or with an attached note. UW acknowledges all gifts, and they notify the donors to thank them and let them know that their gift was received.
UW Foundation Gift Processing
Box 359505
Seattle WA 98195-9505