Albert T. Quick

Albert Thomas Quick (Al) passed away in Traverse City, Michigan on August 20, 2024. Al was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, the son of Robert and Vera Quick, and was raised in Marshall, Michigan where he excelled as a student leader and a football player. Upon graduation from high school, Al earned several college degrees. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona, where he also was selected as a finalist for Most Eligible Bachelor. That caused him to chuckle for decades to come. Following his time out west, he returned to Michigan and earned a Master of Arts degree in history at Central Michigan University. Shortly after that, he attended law school at Wayne State University, earning a Juris Doctor degree. Once he completed law school, Al worked as an assistant prosecutor for a period of time in his hometown of Marshall, and also practiced law with the firm of Hatch & Hatch. But it wasn’t long before he decided that he wanted to enter the world of education. He was offered a position with the University of Maine Augusta, and started the Criminal Justice program there. After three years, Al decided he wanted to enter the law school arena, and in order to do that, went on to Tulane University College of Law and earned a post-doctorate degree, an LL.M. After graduation, he was offered a faculty position with the University of Louisville, Brandeis College of Law where he served on the faculty for thirteen years. While Al enjoyed teaching, he was interested in administration. Subsequently, he applied for and was offered the deanship at the Ohio Northen University College of Law where he served for eight years. He discovered that he had found his niche, but wanted to be closer to his wife, Brenda Quick’s law school, where she was serving as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Michigan State College of Law. As a result, he applied for and was offered the deanship at the Univeristy of Toledo College of Law. Al remained at the law school until he retired in 2000. At that time, he was honored by being awarded the lifetime recognition as Dean and Professor of Law Emeritus. However, Al simply couldn’t walk away from education and, after being invited to teach as a visiting professor, he taught three semesters at Barry University College of Law in Orlando, Florida, a semester at Michigan State College of Law, teaching Constitutional Law, and co-taught American Jurisprudence one semester along with his wife, Brenda, at Jilin University in Changchun, China. In addition to Al’s efforts and successes in the educational field, he devoted much of his professional life to helping and supporting persons of all walks of life. Al believed strongly in the Constitution and the protections it provides. He worked relentlessly in the area of Civil Rights, taking matters to court and fighting for persons of all walks of life. As a result of his commitment and efforts, he was awarded one of the highest honors by the National Bar Association, the Medallion of Justice. His work and successes were also recognized by his college fraternity, and he was inducted into the Sigma Phi Epsilon Hall of Fame. While Al worked hard for the common good nationally, he also reached out and devoted much time to help his local community. He served for a number of years on the Traverse City Library Board, the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and was one of the lawyers who worked tirelessly with Save Our Downtown to ensure that all residents within the city had the right to be able to vote on important matters. While Al had a wonderful, successful career, and loved all of it, his first love was his family. He was an outstanding husband to Brenda. As they would tell people, they didn’t just love each other, but were in love with each other. That continued for each day of their married life as they traveled throughout the world, reached out to their family and friends, and worked side by side in all ventures. Moreover, Al dearly loved and was extremely proud of all of his children and grandchildren. He shared with them three attributes that he asked they adopt as their own. He wanted them to have the courage to stand up for what they believe is right, address those beliefs with integrity, and treat all persons, regardless of their stations in life, with respect and dignity. He was so proud that his requests have been successfully embraced by all of them. Al is survived by his spouse, Brenda Jones Quick, son Breton Leone-Quick (Katherine Quick), daughters, Traci Quick (Todd Fagin), Becki Quick (Manuel Otero), Regan Quick-Severin (Gregory Severin), Leigh Ansley (Benjamin Ansley), Lori Willinghurst (John Stroh), and grandchildren, Eleanor, Thomas, Violet, William, Henry, Jacqueline, Avery, Ella and Theodore. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 341 Washington Street, Traverse City, on Saturday, August 31, 2024. A time of visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the service at 11:30 a.m. A light lunch will follow. Interment will take place at Oakridge Cemetery in Marshall, MI. If you would like to give a gift in Al’s honor, please consider donating to the Albert Thomas and Brenda Jones Quick History Study Abroad Scholarship for History graduate students at Central Michigan University.

Albert T. Quick

June 28, 1939 - August 20, 2024