John Joseph McQuaide

John Joseph McQuaide Jr.

February 24, 1943 – July 5, 2026

John Joseph McQuaide Jr., 83, of San Diego, California, passed away peacefully on July 5 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

He was born on February 24, 1943, in Winona, New Jersey, to Doris Marie Michelson McQuaide and John Joseph McQuaide Sr. He moved to San Diego with his family when he was 16 and graduated from Mount Miguel High School, where he played linebacker for the football team.

John went on to play football at the University of Utah on a scholarship, working summers at NASSCO in San Diego. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

He began his career as a sales representative in Los Angeles before returning to San Diego to attend the University of San Diego School of Law. After graduating, he practiced first as a criminal defense attorney, then as a personal injury lawyer, before becoming a developer of commercial properties. John later became the owner and operator of FE Boat Trailers, a company that manufactures and repairs boat trailers.

John loved his family, his dogs, building things, playing music, and sports. Among his many passions were cycling (road racing, touring, and velodrome track racing), water sports (sailing, rowing, and paddling), boat building, photography, singing, playing the recorder and other instruments,

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, David McQuaide (Dee) He is survived by his sister, Doris McQuaide Wascher (sons Mike, Matt, John); his brother, Alan McQuaide (Betts) his wife, Suzanne Forsha McQuaide; his daughter, Elizabeth McQuaide Marsh ( Ralph); and his son, Victor John McQuaide. His grandchildren, Elyse (Ian Kearney), Sophia (Cord Given), Noah Marsh, Allie (Mamadou Alfa Barry), Tristan, Zackery, and Gracen McQuaide, Estrella García, Samantha and Alejandro Molina; and his great-grandchildren, Demba, Phoebe, Alexandria, Cattalaya, Josiah, Izzacc, Jadiel.

We appreciate the support of our bonus family, Reese, Sandra, Dave, Bob, Mona, Ruth, Veronica, Sheena,

Megan, Ayden, Jon, Dean, Ayana, Mike, Judy, Dustin, Stephanie, Amy, Karen, Mary.

Gratitude to the staff at ActivCare Mission Bay for the quality care John received there.

A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, at Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship,

8778 Cottonwood Avenue, Santee, CA 92071.

There is no need to donate flowers or plant a tree.