White River Junction, VT – Luke Daniel Quinlan, our dear son, supportive brother, nephew and cousin, friend, and humanitarian, died unexpectedly on Monday, October 23, 2023, in his home at the age of 32.  Luke was born on September 5, 1991, in Cold Spring, NY to parents Peter and Linda (Righi) Quinlan.  The family lived in Wallkill, NY and on Luke's 5th birthday, he was gifted a little brother: Joseph. He took it upon himself to ensure that Joe was included in most everything he did, making it his mission to mentor his new charge. So, despite their five-year age difference, Luke was a major influence for Joseph through the years.

Luke was a voracious reader from an early age, constantly looking for fresh ideas and information to nourish his bright intellect and curiosity of the world beyond his normal everyday experiences.  This served him well, helping him to become an elegant and talented writer, thinker, and an understanding and caring friend to humanity. In high school he was not only a member of the Wallkill High School National Honor Society, graduating near the top of his class, but also an accomplished soccer player on a traveling team and his Junior High and High School teams. At the State University of New York (SUNY) he pursued his Bachelor's Degree with a dual study of Spanish and International Relations, after which he spent some time in Guatemala building positive community relations for health clinics. During his time at SUNY, he built strong relationships with his Zeta Beta Xi fraternity brothers. When he returned to the US after his time abroad, he first visited his family home base, by then Windsor, VT, then a good friend from high school in Chicago, and finally settled in Brooklyn, NY. He loved the bustle of the city and how you could meet people and experience cultures from all over the world there. Luke had also worked for 5 years at the Fire Side Inn & Suites as a front desk manager in the hospitality industry before moving to NYC area.

His family relationships were always of paramount importance to Luke, and even more so after his father became ill and then died in 2017. During that time, he was the rock for his family unit by supporting, listening, and helping his mom and brother through a dark time.  In times of crisis, he was the person that you wanted to have in your corner, and he was always there. In happier times, he shared his family's joys, and shared his love of soccer and his favorite English Premier team, Manchester United, with his brother, often watching the games together.

His family and friends will miss his presence, love, loyalty, generosity of spirit, and insight tremendously.

He is survived by his mother and brother, Linda R. Quinlan and Joseph H. Quinlan, both of White River Junction, VT; multiple aunts, uncles, cousins, fraternity brothers, and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Peter Quinlan.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 10 am at St. Anthony Catholic Church in White River Junction, VT. Memorial donations are appreciated to: Upper Valley Haven, 713 Hartford Ave, White River Junction, VT 05001 or at uppervalleyhaven.org.