By Kelly White
Jack Quinn is a modest man who enjoys spending time with his family and friends.
A resident at Palos Heights Senior Living, 7100 W. College Drive, Quinn proudly celebrated his 100th birthday with those he loves most on Thursday, July 18.
“I can’t believe it,” Quinn said. “I’m working on the second 100 now.”
Quinn, of Chicago, has quite the extensive background. A World War II veteran who served in the Army from 1943 to 1946, he went on an Honor Flight in 2012. He never married; however, he spent his free time traveling and spending time with his family, including countless nieces and nephews, and his many, many friends.
Sharing his landmark birthday is his nephew, also named, John Quinn.
“My uncle is truly a great man,” John, of Orland Park, said.
Quinn has been a resident at Palos Heights Senior Living since August of 2021.
Palos Heights Senior Living offers apartment living in highly with state-of-the-art amenities, top-notch activities and programs, and best-in-class hospitality and is a part of a family of communities operated by Spectrum Retirement Communities.
Nestled in the trees next to the Calumet-Saganashkee Channel, Palos Heights Senior Living offers the best of both worlds for those, like Quinn, who want to enjoy the great outdoors and have city comforts close to home.
There are 179 residents at the facility and all can walk around the Olde Palos Shopping Centre and Orland Square Shopping Mall or enjoy fresh air when they visit Lake Katherine and Cal-Sag walking trails. The surrounding forest preserve and nearby Botanic Gardens make this a beautiful setting for your senior living lifestyle.
“My uncle absolutely loves living here,” Quinn’s niece, Judy Smith, of Oak Lawn, said. “He may not know how to use his cell phone but he is on the computer every day checking the daily news and talking with his friends here.”
Quinn’s family threw him a surprise 100th birthday party on Sunday, July 14, so the celebration at Palos Heights Senior Living on Thursday afternoon was just additional icing on the already incredible birthday cake.
Pauline McGrath, Executive Director at Palos Heights Senior Living, said Quinn turning 100 is very special.
“He (Jack) has a lot of life experiences,” McGrath said. “He is kind and respectful and always a smile on his face. We admire how he still keeps up with the news of the day on his computer. He is alert and knows what he wants.”
Aside from keeping up with the daily news, Quinn enjoys hanging out with the guys, he said, spending time daily talking and reminiscing.
“He is a gentleman, always kind and friendly and very well liked,” McGrath said. “Just an overall very polite man.”
Quinn said he if had to sum up turning 100 in one simple word, it would be, “Amazing.”
