Deacon Thomas H. McQuillan, a deacon at Blessed Sacrament Church
in Alexandria, died Dec. 3 at age 62. He had been ill since August after
suffering a stroke.
Deacon McQuillan was ordained a permanent deacon Jan. 16, 2015,
by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde.
Though he was only able to serve Blessed Sacrament as a deacon
for one and a half years, Father John R. Kelly, pastor, said McQuillan made a
big impact. He said Deacon McQuillan especially loved preaching and doing
baptisms.
“Our parish was very blessed to have him and his service as a
deacon,” said Father Kelly. “He was willing to help the priests in any way he
could and his famous line was, ‘This is great,’ no matter what anyone said.”
He was born July 21, 1954, in New York and grew up in the Bronx.
Deacon McQuillan earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Fordham
University in New York and a law degree from George Washington University in
Washington. Deacon McQuillan served as a federal prosecutor for more than 24
years.
At Blessed Sacrament, Deacon McQuillan served as extraordinary
minister of holy Communion, altar server coordinator, lector and member of the
hospital ministry. He also conducted Communion services at the St. Martin de
Porres Senior Center in Alexandria.
He is survived by his wife, Ann.
Visitation will be held Dec. 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m. at Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria. A
funeral Mass will be offered at Blessed Sacrament Church Dec. 9 at 11 a.m. He
will be buried in New York at a later date.
