Duane Quigg was 92 years old.
NORTON SHORES, MI – For those who knew him, Duane Quigg cared more about others than he did himself.
The 92-year-old Norton Shores resident was active in his community, especially at Tanglewood Park, which provides services for seniors in Muskegon. Quigg was killed Thursday in a two-car crash not far from Tanglewood Park.
“He was so generous and supportive of Tanglewood and the community, ” said Pam Curtis, CEO for Senior Resources of West Michigan at Tanglewood Park, who had known Quigg since 2007. “He always had a smile on his face.”
Curtis noticed fire trucks speeding past her office as she stared out of her window Thursday afternoon.
“I thought to myself, ‘That can’t be good, ‘” she said.
What she didn’t know was that the first-responders were heading to a crash scene where Quigg and his passenger, 90-year-old Elaine Carsok of Norton Shores, had been involved in a two-car crash.
Quigg’s car was struck by a vehicle, which had been reportedly stolen out of Grand Rapids, that was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to a press release from the Norton Shores Police Department.
Carsok was taken to Mercy Health Partners Hackley Campus with serious injuries, and Quigg was pronounced dead at the scene.
“To find out it was Duane was horrible, ” Curtis said. “It’s heartbreaking that he is gone. It’s going to be a big loss for the community.”
Quigg was the founder of Engine Power Components in Grand Haven and had always made it a focus to make sure seniors received the proper services at Tanglewood, Curtis said.
“He was one of those people you always enjoyed running into in the halls, ” she said. “He was fun to talk to. He was always curious with how we were serving adults in the community. I love when people can see a need and get passionate about it. I always appreciated that care and support. He was always behind us.”
Quigg grew up in Albion, Michigan and receivied an engineering degree from Tri-State University in Angola, Indiana.
He served in World War II and his family made donations to the Tanglewood Park organization, Curtis said.
Quigg and Carsok met each other while playing pickeball and were frequent vistors to Tanglewood Park.
“They called it the club, ” said Elaine Carsok’s daugther-in-law Rose Carsok.
Rose Carsok described Quigg as a nice person who enjoyed speaking to others.
“He’s a talker. He would talk to anybody, ” she said.
Muskegon Heights Police Chief and Quigg’s ex son-in-law Joseph E. Thomas Jr. said he was shocked to find out Quigg was the victim of the crash. One of Thomas’ officer helped perform CPR on him at the scene.
“He passed away within sight of me, and I had no idea, ” Thomas said.
Thomas said Quigg was someone whom he would never forget.
“He was a true leader, ” Thomas said. “He taught me a lot about business. He taught me a lot about people getting along with each other.
“I’ve got fond memories of him. He used to smile a lot – I remember that. Just a nice guy. I’m going to miss him. I miss people like that.”
Quigg’s neighbor, Lisa Beauchamp Tyler wrote about Quigg’s death on her Facebook page.
“So very sad. Duane Quigg lived down the street and I often saw him at Tanglewood Park, ” she wrote. “He was always smiling, just the friendliest man. I feel awful for his family (who are also our neighbors) .”
Police I. D. victim of crash with suspect in called-off police chase
Curtis said she would miss Quigg’s never-ending support of Tanglewood, and his love for the community.
” (I’ll miss) his presence and that feeling of support and interest, ” she said. “He was genuinely interested in what we were doing.
“I think it speaks to his character and understanding of this community and empathy in that people need access to services, something to keep them active or keep them in their homes and he was supportive of that. We send our condolences to his family. This community and the family lost a great man.”
Gallery: One dead in crash involving suspect in called-off police chase
