Kenneth Quickel Jr

Kenneth E. Quickel, Jr, M.D., passed away at the age of 85 on December 29, 2024 in Stillwater, MN. Dr. Quickel was a beloved father, husband, grandfather, brother, son, and friend to many. He was a physician and a lifelong philanthropist.

Dr. Quickel's long and successful career began at Dartmouth College, followed by Johns Hopkins Medical School, and endocrinology training at Duke University. He spent a few years in the Public Health Service, which included travel to Indonesia to fight bubonic plague and battling the first outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease in Philadelphia, PA.

Ken married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jennings, in Camp Hill, PA, where they grew up. Ken's father, Kenneth E. Quickel Sr. MD, was a prominent cardiologist in Harrisburg, PA. After Ken's training was complete in 1972, he, Mary, and family settled in Danville, PA where he was an endocrinologist and eventually a Vice President of Geisinger Medical Center. He was an early proponent of patient satisfaction and coined the phrase "The job isn't done until the patient is happy". He concluded his career serving as President of Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, MA. Ken and Mary retired first to Cape Cod, MA and later to Stillwater MN. He remained professionally active, serving on multiple Boards of Directors, including Joslin Diabetes Center, YMCAs in Cape Cod and White Bear Lake, and Lakeview Foundation in Stillwater.

Ken always had a twinkle of mischief in his eye and kept all those who knew him laughing to the end. A consummate storyteller, he loved to share the tales of his childhood exploits in Camp Hill, PA. as well as his many adventures and travels. A prolific reader fascinated by World War II, his library overflowed with the history of the war in which his father fought. Throughout his life, Dr. Quickel was a formidable athlete and fierce competitor. He was a basketball Captain and star player for Camp Hill High School. -His competitiveness extended to a lifelong love of tennis, bridge, ping pong, and facing down the family in Monopoly. He was equally passionate about cheering for his beloved Patriots, Duke Blue Devils, and Red Sox. -Ken was a talented woodworker and painter with a deep appreciation for the witty poems of Ogden Nash.

Ken is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary (nee Jennings); his three children, Robert (Sarah), Mary Beth Swanson, and David; and grandchildren, Lauren and Blake Quickel, Benjamin and Evan Swanson Eli Burrous Quickel; as well as nieces and nephews, Stephen Quickel (Cheryl), Jenny Waring (Jeff), Kenneth Gouse (Gloria) and Dennis Gouse (Kimberly). -He is predeceased by his parents, Carolyn ( nee Chick) Quickel and Kenneth E. Quickel, Sr., MD; and siblings, Stephen and Carolyn Gouse (nee Quickel).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Dr. Quickel's name to Joslin Diabetes Center at One Joslin Place, Attn Development Office, Rm 705, Boston, MA 02215. A service will be planned for the Spring of 2025.