Allie J. Quinnwent to dance the light fantastic with her waiting love, Brian Quinn, on February 21, 2018. She leaves a hole in the hearts of those who remain behind. Allie was a catalyst, organizer, mentor and friend, educator, lifelong explorer of this earth and knowledge, hostess and chef extraordinaire, and a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Allie Brady James was born in 1930 to Dr. Carmen E. James and Eleanor Brady James in Memphis, TN, where she grew up and excelled at Miss Hutchison's School. She attended Wellesley College (Class of 1952), studying political science. While home during her college years, she met fellow Memphis native and her eventual great love and life partner, Brian. In February 1950, Brian married the "most beautiful girl in the world" at Allie's parent's home in Jameswood, and loved her tenderly forevermore. Over the next decade, they finished three degrees, had three treasured children (Jim, Brad and Virginia), and after multiple moves arrived in their lifelong home in Hanover, NH.

In addition to nurturing her family and supporting Brian's courses and writings at Dartmouth's Tuck School, Allie immersed herself in regional planning and policy. She became president of the local League of Women Voters, and worked with schools on science education with particular focus on conservation and the environment. She also chaired the New England River Basins Commission, which resisted the Corps of Engineers' plan to build five new dams on the Connecticut and dozens throughout the region -- and many New England rivers still flow freely.

A year in Paris in 1963-4 launched a new phase of Allie's life, studying the sources of innovation and technological change with Brian and exploring Europe with the family. The travel bug bit, and the family spent many more years abroad adopting international homes and making lifelong friends while living in Switzerland, Norway, Australia and Japan. Adventures and boondoggles included cultural centers, mountaintops, wildlife meccas, owls galore, and sunsets on every continent. Allie's behind the scenes partnership with Brian produced a succession of influential books, seminars and programs on innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. Allie extracted data from journals, typed and edited draft manuscripts, organized flawless travel logistics, and hosted elegant dinners for students, colleagues and a succession of visitors who had changed the world for the better.

Allie was part of a network of strong, dedicated, creative women and other community leaders who have had a major impact on shaping the Upper Valley into what it is today. She applied boundless dedication and gentle persuasion while working with others to accomplish lofty goals. She mentored supported, cajoled others into needed roles, and helped organizations interact with the political community. Together, they built such organizations as the Hanover Conservancy, Vital Communities, and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), and re-envisioned the Dartmouth Natural History Museum as the Montshire Museum of Science. Brian assisted with business plans and strategies, and the two together helped with major conservation efforts, including the establishment of the Quinn Nature Preserve on the Montshire grounds and the Quinn Trail along Mink Brook, as well as a wider variety of conservation acquisitions and trails throughout the region.

Allie's later years were spent traveling with friends and family, enjoying their mountain Eagle's Nest in Colorado, and delighting in a succession of guests with their open-door policy whether they were home or away. Her final years were spent at Kendal of Hanover, where she filled her days with orchids and birds, family and friends, and finding ways to make others happy -- all with the help of a cheerful and generous cadre of supporters and caregivers who helped her to continue living independently and comfortably. In the end, Allie's big heart could give no more. She passed away as she had lived -- with beauty and grace, surrounded by her cherished family – her three children and their spouses, her three grandchildren, and sweetest sounds of laughter and squeals from the youngest of her four great grandchildren.

Allie was pre-deceased by her husband of 62 years and the love of her life, Brian Quinn, and by her brother Dr. Hal James. She is survived by her daughter Virginia Quinn and husband Hiroshi Kumazawa in New Hampshire; her son Jim and wife Flossie in California; the Colorado Quinn crew of son Brad and wife Karen, grandchildren Lindsey, Will, and Kate, and four great grandchildren Denali, Bass, Boone and Saker; and her Memphis nephews and families.

A celebration of Allie's life is planned for June 23 at the Montshire Museum, Norwich, VT, at 4:00 pm, with reception to follow. Owls are optional.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to the Montshire Museum of Science, the Hanover Conservancy, Vital Communities, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), or one of the other inspiring local organizations that Allie so cherished.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.