Kevin C. Quinn

Kevin C. Quinn, 53, of Syracuse, passed away peacefully on Thursday, surrounded by family at Crouse Hospital, owing to complications following a prolonged illness. A communications leader known statewide and nationally as an expert on higher education, leadership, political, and crisis communications, Kevin served for a decade as Vice President for Public Affairs at Syracuse University, then as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Executive Communications and Public Affairs. He was exquisitely prepared for these roles, having previously been press secretary to former New York Governor George Pataki, serving as day-to-day spokesperson and managing media relations for the nation’s longest-serving governor at the time.

Raised in Albany, NY to Denis and Mary-Lee, Kevin was a graduate of Bishop Maginn High School and earned his bachelor's degree from SUNY Plattsburgh, where he majored in communications. Kevin honed his craft as a communicator and built his famously encyclopedic knowledge of New York State government while performing various roles of increasing responsibility there. He was then tapped by Governor Pataki to serve him directly.

While he was a lifelong fan of the New England Patriots, Kevin arguably was a bigger fan of the sport of politics. He was a political partisan, but his strongest political allegiance was to democracy. Throughout his career, Kevin committed himself through his work to finding solutions to society’s problems that would make good on America’s promise as a place of opportunity for all. He brought to that work the sensibilities he developed growing up the son of hard-working parents in modest circumstances in Albany, ever grateful himself for the opportunities afforded him through education, hard work, and caring mentors. That awareness endeared Kevin to friends and colleagues of all political stripes, along with his reserved demeanor, keen analytical mind, wry sense of humor, crooked half-smile, and fierce loyalty to those close to him.

Kevin’s deepest commitment of all, however, was to his family, his profound love for his wife, Mary, his overflowing pride in his son, Patrick, and the inspiration he drew from his father, Denis and mother, Mary-Lee.

In honor of Kevin’s life, relatives and friends are invited to gather Saturday, February 3 from noon to 1 p.m at Hendricks Chapel on the Syracuse University campus, 121 Crouse Dr., Syracuse. A funeral service and then reception will immediately follow at the chapel. 

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to memorialize Kevin may make donations to the Dementia Society of America in his memory at https://www.weremember.com/kevin-quinn/1x4n/memories.