Obituary of Dr. Dennis P. Quinlan, Sr.

Dr. Dennis P. Quinlan, Sr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, and esteemed physician and educator, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at the age of 82.

Born on April 16, 1943, in Philadelphia, PA to the late John and Phyllis Quinlan (nee Zorn), Dennis devoted his life to service, both medicine and in his community. A proud graduate of Villanova University in 1965, he went on to earn his medical degree from CMDNJ in 1969. He then served his country with distinction as a Major in the United States Air Force before embarking on a remarkable career in medical education and healthcare.

For decades, Dr. Quinlan shaped the future of medicine as a professor at UMDNJ, where he educated and mentored generations of physicians with compassion, rigor, and dedication. His leadership extended beyond the classroom as he served as Assistant Dean of Medical Education, where his vision helped guide the institution’s mission to train and inspire healers. Most recently, he served as Chief of Medicine for the VA NJ Healthcare System from 2003 until his retirement in 2024, where he was proud to care for and advocate for fellow veterans.

Outside of medicine, Dennis cherished life’s simple joys. He loved being outdoors whether gardening, walking his dog, swimming in the ocean, or soaking up the sun at the beach. He was an avid photographer and, in his younger years, enjoyed skiing and scuba diving. A longtime resident of South Orange, he built a home filled with warmth, humor, and unwavering devotion to his family.

Dennis leaves behind his beloved wife, Dr. Kristin Fless; his sons Dr. Dennis P. Quinlan, Jr. and his wife Nicole, Andrew Quinlan and his wife Lori, and Declan Quinlan; his daughters Meghan Quinlan Ilich and her husband Michael, and Madeline Quinlan; his cherished grandchildren Dennis P. Quinlan III, Brianne Quinlan, and Max Quinlan; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends and colleagues.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John Quinlan, and his sister Jeanne Cooney.

Dr. Quinlan will be remembered as a man of integrity, intellect, and kindness. He was a devoted physician, educator, and family man whose influence lives on in the countless lives he touched.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the memorial visitation for Dennis to be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made in Dennis’ name to either the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, www.aspca.org, or to the Wounded Warrior Project, 370 7th Ave, Suite 1802, New York, NY 10001, www.woundedwarriorproject.org.