Spokane Park Board resolution honors Jim Quigley

The Spokane Park Board this week honored its vice president who died last month.

Jim Quigley, 79, who worked as a dentist for about four decades in Spokane, served on the board for nine years.

The board passed a resolution honoring Quigley for his service, philanthropy and “tremendous gift of time.” Indeed, he continued work on the board as he battled liver cancer. Three weeks before he died May 29, he participated in a Park Board meeting by phone.

The resolution said he was instrumental in helping raise money needed for the Moore-Turner Heritage Gardens and the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park.

Quigley grew up in Coeur d’Alene. His parents owned the Topper Drive-In, where Quigley worked, said Rosie Quigley, his wife of 35 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and his dental degree from the University of Washington.

He started work as a dentist in 1958 and built his own dental office at Chestnut Street and Pacific Avenue in Browne’s Addition. He sold his practice in the mid-1990s, but later filled in when needed for another dentist – John J. Condon, father of Spokane Mayor David Condon. After his retirement he served on several boards, including for the Morning Star Boys’ Ranch Foundation.

Besides his wife, Quigley is survived by four children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The Spokane Parks Foundation has started a memorial fund in Quigley’s name. Contributions can be made at spokaneparksfoundation.org and can be marked for the Quigley fund.

Heather Beebe-Stevens, the foundation’s executive director, said Quigley and his wife each year donated a large bag of new swimsuits for the foundation’s annual campaign to provide swimsuits for low-income families.

“He believed quite strongly that all kids should be able to get into the pool.”