Dr. Alfred T. Quinn —the first African American teacher in Santa Monica and a former Santa Monica College trustee, dean and professor — passed away Wednesday at the age of 80.
Dr. Quinn was deeply committed to education and civil rights, SMC officials say. He was regarded as an institution in Santa Monica and Malibu, where he devoted countless hours of service to a wide range of community organizations.
Friends remember that Dr. Quinn was almost killed by a mob in Alabama in 1942 when he challenged a white man who used a racial slur against him. The experience sparked an early commitment to civil rights that he carried with him throughout his long and distinguished career as an educator in Santa Monica.
Born Sept. 21, 1922, he spent all but 13 years of his life in Santa Monica and Malibu. The first African American teacher in Santa Monica, he started teaching at local elementary and junior high schools, as well as SMC in 1951, becoming a full-time sociology professor at the college in 1964. In 1974, he started SMC’s Extended Opportunities Programs and Services program, and from 1976 to 1982 he was the college’s affirmative action officer, as well as an instructor. He served as dean of student services from 1982 until his retirement in 1988. Two years later, he came back to the college as an elected trustee and served one term, including one year as chair and one year as vice chair.
Dr. Quinn received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from UCLA. He also served in the U.S. Air Corps for three years during World War II.
He was the author of two books on race relations in public schools and received many awards for his teaching and community service from such organizations as the NAACP, Santa Monica mayor’s office, National Conference of Christians & Jews, and the League of United Latin American Citizens.
He is survived by his wife, Sylvia “Dottie” Quinn. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 7 at First United Methodist Church, located at 11th Street Washington Avenue Santa Monica. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Al Quinn Scholarship Fund at Santa Monica College. Checks should be made out to the SMC Foundation/Al Quinn Scholarship Fund and can be mailed to the SMC Foundation, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 1, 2003. Read the original PDF.