Albert F. Quinlan, Jr., helped to rescue Aurelius K. Allen from burning, St. Louis, Missouri, October 2, 1970. At night a two-door sedan driven by Allen, 44, chemical engineer, was in an accident and, veering from the highway, stopped on uneven terrain where gasoline leaking from the fuel tank flowed along a ground indentation at the automobile’s right side and caught fire. Allen, who had sustained injuries, was unable to open the left door but succeeded in opening the right door slightly; and he sustained burns from flames which then spread into the front-seat area. Quinlan, 23, college student, ran to the left side of the sedan, along with another man. Flames burned around the fuel tank and inside the vehicle. With difficulty, Quinlan and the other man opened the left door about one foot. Quinlan then held the door open while the other man reached into the sedan and lifted Allen part way through the narrow opening. Still holding the door, Quinlan aided the other man in pulling Allen from the sedan, which soon was engulfed in flames. Allen recovered from his injuries and burns.
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Obituary
Albert Frank Quinlan Jr. (Bert) passed away peacefully on June 9, 2025, surrounded by family in Door County. He was born in St. Louis in 1947 as the third child of Mickey and Albert Quinlan, with eight siblings following him. He was a man of all trades, but prided himself on having fun. Bert spent his summers in Whitefish Bay with his brothers and
sisters, and he cherished Door County, choosing to spend his final days there. With the help of his siblings, in-laws, nieces, and nephews, Bert enjoyed one last great summer in a place he loved. During that time, he fished, took a plane ride around Door County, attended a Packers game, discovered his love for art, and became quite skilled at flying drones. A special thank you to Bert’s caretaker, Shelly Defere, who was truly Bert’s best friend and fishing companion.
A lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, Bert attended many World Series games with his brothers Mike, Bill, John, and Tom. He loved sharing everything Packers with his nephew Jack. He was a beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews, often sharing stories of his adventures from the 1960s. His family eagerly anticipated his visits to Door County, never knowing what gadgets he would bring along. He loved giving his
grandnephew/niece small gifts.
Bert was an all-around athlete. He loved to golf and play ball, but sailing was his true passion. He sailed the Melges E-Scow while living in Madison and spent countless hours sailing with his brother Mike in Whitefish Bay. Bert spent time sailing in France with his sister Pat. Every year, he joined his brothers to attend the Indy 500, a race their father loved.
In 1965, Bert was honored with the Carnegie Hero Award for rescuing a driver from a burning car in St. Louis, showcasing his heroism.
Bert was also a fan of Bob Dylan, much to his father’s chagrin. He often quoted a line from Bob’s 1968 song, “Wanted Man,” which was initially written for Johnny Cash: “I’ve had all that I wanted of a lot of things I’ve had.”