Deacon Quigley served the Archdiocese of New York for more than 50 years as a social worker, deacon, and administrator. He was honored with the papal award “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice”
Deacon Donald M. Quigley, born February 9, 1946, in New York City, was the son of the late Thomas and Bridget (Comiskey) Quigley. Brother of the late John (the late Mary), the late Thomas (Margaret), Anne (the late Mike) Dunne, the late Kathleen (the late Andrew) Rudy, and Eileen (Raymond) Conrad. Predeceased by his nephews Michael Dunne and Thomas P. Quigley. Survived by his 11 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins in the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Also survived by his devoted friend Tim Condon, his wife Denise, and their children Tim, Suzanne, John (U.S. Navy), Patrick, and Grace, who knew him lovingly as Pop/Grandpa.
He graduated from St. John’s School, the Bronx, Cardinal Hayes High School, and received a bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College and a master’s in social work from Fordham University. He was a licensed master of social work and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970 and was discharged with the rank of E5.
He was ordained a deacon on May 8, 1983, by the Servant of God Terence Cardinal Cooke and served at St. John’s, the Bronx, from 1983 to 1997; St. Eugene’s, Yonkers, 1997 to 2007; and St. Margaret of Cortona-St. Gabriel, 2007 until his death.
Over the years, he was the director of social services at St. Cabrini Nursing Home, Dobbs Ferry; was appointed the first full-time director of deacons for the Archdiocese of New York; and served as coordinator of retired priests for the Archdiocese of New York. As coordinator for retired priests, he was the “Repraesentans Designatus” for the planning and construction of the John Cardinal O’Connor Clergy Residence, which opened in 2003. He served on the board of many not-for-profit agencies, including the Dominican Sisters Family Home Care Agency and the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, Yonkers.
He was honored for his service by Archbishop Stepinac High School, St. Cabrini Nursing Home, the Frances Schervier Home Care Agency, and the Dominican Sisters Family Home. He was inducted into the Cardinal Hayes High School Hall of Fame.
In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed on him the papal award “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice,” which was presented to him by the late Edward Cardinal Egan. In total, he served the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of New York for more than 50 years of full-time ministry.
Reposing will be held on Thursday, February 26, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Ave.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, February 27, at 10 a.m. at St. Margaret of Cortona Church, 6000 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, New York 10471. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Yonkers.