Quentin Michael Vaughan

The Big Q, Major, Husband, Dad, Brother, Grandpa, Papa, Uncle Q, Boss, Friend.

Born in New York City on October 31, 1936, which is very fitting for his personality, will be buried October 31, 2020. He was a Halloween baby, which meant the celebration of that day meant so much more than costumes and candy to this family. And he always made it something to remember. While he built his family in Seminole and made an indelible impression on the town and its people, he had a unique journey to get to his ultimate resting place.

Q was a proud Irish-American boy, who loved Notre Dame football more than almost anything! In the early years, Q, the son of Thomas Francis, a New York City firefighter and Mary Ryan, a dedicated housewife and mother, played basketball and ran around with his “friends” in the street. He was the baby of the family and grew up in adoration of his two older siblings, Anne and Tom. They lived in the Bronx where Q went to Catholic school through his high school, Bishop Dubois in Washington Heights. Known as one of the two toughest guys in the neighborhood (his brother was the other one), he was an athlete who played street basketball with finesse and boxed, both with and without the gloves. Boxing was one of his great passions. And when he watched it in his later years, it was a spectacle. He would juke and jive as if he were in the ring himself.

He took that talent to Georgetown University, in our Nation’s Capital, after being recruited to attend college there. He might have gotten into a little trouble at the Jesuit school as a result but graduated with a double major in History and Philosophy. He was a Faithful Believer in Jesus Christ and had the most admiration for this great Country than anyone. His loyalty to the U.S. and its Flag was deep. He said throughout his life that the United States of America was the greatest Country on Earth. Due to that love and devotion, he joined the United States Army.

After spending a few years in the United States Army, he was Honorably Discharged and went back to New York City and tried his hand at Social Service. That is when J. Edgar Hoover came calling, recruiting a 26-year-old Q for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). While still in the city and before embarking on a journey as a special agent, in the FBI that would take him to several states and Puerto Rico, he met Rosie.

Rosemarie Theresa Valente “Rosie” was a ticket agent for Northwest Airlines at JFK Eastside Terminal in NYC. Q met her while she was sipping scotch at a party in the City. Of course, she was getting those sips from Q’s bottle, which she subsequently proceeded to take and give to all her friends. Good old dreamy Q pursued Rosie, who proceeded to hide from him the next time she saw him coming toward her ticket counter in the terminal from afar. She was leery since her roommates warned her of his “bedroom eyes.” If you knew Q, you know his eyes were a crystal blue that is really impossible to describe other than saying they were the color of clear blue sky. And they sparkled. Always the investigator, he found her hiding in the back behind the desk.

Q overcame Rosie’s apprehensions, and they were married on October 12, 1963. Due to his FBI obligations, they moved away from both families and ended up in Brunswick, right outside Savanah, Georgia. The City boy and the Italian girl smack in the middle of the Deep South. In the 60’s and in the middle of the Civil Rights movement. We could go on for days about his FBI adventures, but one noteworthy is when he infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan and saved two young Navy men from being harassed. In classic Q form, he was standing in the crowd in all of his Irish, Catholic, New York glory and one of the big-wigs struck up a conversation with him, telling him that the clan was on to the two young Navy guys coming in as spies and the clan was getting ready to snatch them. Little did the guy know, it was Q who was the spy. He quickly proceeded to tell the Navy gents to skedaddle, which they did.

From Georgia, Q had to attend language school in DC and then transferred to San Diego, California, where their first-born baby was born. Stephanie Anne was born on February 16, 1966, actually Rosie’s 33rd birthday. Steph came into the world screaming and Q said she never stopped, lovingly referring to her as “the Mouth of the South.”

After a quick stop in Chicago, the family of three moved back to New York, Rockville Center, Long Island. It was there that Timothy and Veronica were born. Tim on April 10, 1969 and Veronica on May 26, 1970. Timothy was the cutest baby ever and Q always said he looked just like Rosie. His only boy, Dr. Tim made Q exuberantly proud until the minute of his last breath. Tim married Victoria Senick Vaughan in 1994. They created a beautiful family. Amanda, who is currently a law student in Tallahassee; Evelyn, who many say is much like her Papa Q; and Olivia, who we all know was waiting there to welcome Papa into Heaven.

Veronica, the baby, the beautiful, the one who really took care of Q in the long run. She worked with him at the Sheriff’s Department and gave Q his first and only grandson, Raymond. Oh, the joy he had when he was with that child; they colored, watched TV, and laughed together for hours on end. Christina came along next. The bond that the two of them shared, Christina and Grandpa, was palpable. It was sweet, fun and loving. It will be missed along with him.

His presence and influence did not stop with the family he loved fiercely. Known to have made people feel like they were his own children, Q touched so many lives. Whether it was to help write a speech, get someone back on the right track in life, listen, mentor a wayward waif and so on and so on. Known as a cop’s cop, Q is said to have saved people’s jobs – sometimes without them even knowing. He was a fair supervisor and was there for people even when some were not. Q believed in people, in second chances, and forgiveness.

Now, this life story would be remiss to leave out the impact he had in Pinellas County. After retiring from the FBI in 1988, he began working with Sheriff Everett Rice at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Major Vaughan was the deputy’s major. He did stints in the Inspections Bureau and Investigative Operations Bureau, and ended up in the Judicial Operations Bureau, but his true love was working with the patrol deputies. He was revered (and feared – let’s be honest) in the days he was there. Q influenced careers, buoyed promotions, was loyal and a confidant to the Sheriff himself for 14 years. His retirement party was epic, just like him.

A true gentleman who loved to sing and dance. He had a pep in his step and enviable voice. He loved music and had a few favorite songs with zero common genre: Danny Boy, which perked him up even in his final days; The Lion Sleeps Tonight, which he played and sang well before the Lion King movie ever existed; and Queen’s We Will Rock You/We are the Champions, which he blared religiously while standing on a chair before Sunday dinners. And the dancing, oh the dancing. The ladies would line up to dance with him even years after he was married. Rosie was cool with it. And some of the more “modern” music (like Michael Jackson and Paula Abdul) would get him moving to the point that people cried with laughter.

Q was an artist in addition to being a genius. He did the New York Times crossword puzzle, in pen. Good grief, he literally dominated everyone he ever played in Jeopardy, rarely, if ever, getting a wrong answer. He entertained everyone. Literally everyone. He was the life of the party and made every gathering he ever attended better. When the TV was on, though, you might have had to cause an earthquake to get his attention. He was typically busy watching B-movies, golf (any sport, really), or news. To make him laugh, all you had to do was turn on British humor, mainly Monte Python or Benny Hill.

Quentin Michael Vaughan took care of everyone, especially his devoted wife Rosie, his children, and grandchildren. We never wanted for anything and always knew there was a safety net to catch us. Q was holding that net. The loss of that feeling of security is stifling. For the last several years, Q was the one taken care of. He sincerely loved Tina Davis, who was his lead caregiver, friend, and rock. She gave him life. Tina found Anita Bispo, who gingerly cared for Q, always keeping him comfortable and calm. We will forever be in their debt and consider both part of the family.

This man was an icon. He had a fabulous life with so much love. He lived life and has left wonderful a legacy to the world through all of his good deeds, family, and memories. As one person wrote, he was a Warrior until the end. Rest in Peace, Dear Quentin. You have earned it!

Memorial Contributions may be made to:

Parkinson’s Foundation Florida, https://www.parkinson.org/florida or

Suncoast Hospice Foundation, https://www.suncoasthospice.orgdonate.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st Street, Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.