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Quinn-Fox, Nancy J.
Nancy J. Quinn-Fox, 56, was born May 4, 1953, raised in Iowa, and has lived in Modesto, Calif., since 1984. Services: 1 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids, where friends may call after noon. Interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, next to her mother, Marjorie Quinn.
In 1987, she was diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, a disease which was destroying her lungs. She received a life saving heart and lung transplant in 1988, that enabled her to live a full, vibrant and rewarding life, seeing things she was told she would never see. She was able to see her three children graduate from high school and college, two of their weddings and enjoyed the birth of five granddaughters. She had the honor of running with the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games torch through San Francisco. She was an avid volunteer, giving back to the community, at Doctor's Medical Center of Modesto, The California Transplant Donor Network, Girl Scouts, Children's Crisis Center and her children's schools. She retired from Save Mart Supermarkets in 2004, after 25 years in the industry.
At 21 years after transplant, Nancy made medical history by being the longest living heart-lung transplant recipient. She was recently diagnosed with cancer and lost her battle on Nov. 12, 2009, while at UCSF Medical Center.
She is survived by her husband, Steve of Modesto, Calif., whom she met while at college at Iowa State University in 1971. They had three children, Kristi (Karl) of Austin, Texas, John (Jill) of Bloomington, Ill., and Katie (Kirk) of Turlock, Calif. She adored her granddaughters, Leslie, Zoey, Taylor, Kelley and Kaitlyn. Her father, Charles Quinn, continues to reside in Cedar Rapids. Her six brothers and sisters, Chris, Mike, Pat, Kim, Jackie and Steve, span the United States and Canada. She had multiple nieces and nephews, cousins, outlaws, friends and loved ones who also will miss her dearly.
Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Nancy, couldn't love her more. It's Nancy's spirit and attitude that will continue to live in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers, Nancy would appreciate donations directed to The California Transplant Donor Network.
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