Research and Learn

 They say that some people and their stories stick with you after you learn about them. There are two people whose stories stick with me, 30 years after their passings. Back in May of 2020, as I am going through my father's possessions after his passing, I go through his yearbook from his senior year of High School, as well as a school newspaper, and a program from his senior breakfast and graduation, and see the name Longworth Quinn, Jr., dad's class president. I think to myself, "Wow, this young man did it all, and was in many school activities. If he is still alive. where is he now, and what did he do with himself after high school?" I did a search online, and learned quite a bit, as I continue to do today. Born in Chicago, Longworth Quinn, Jr. was the son of Longworth Quinn, Sr., who was with the Chicago Defender at the time, later with the Michigan Chronicle, where he rose to the position of  Publisher. After High School, he went to Alma College, and later Wayne State University Law School, where he got his Juris Doctor degree in 1973.  Longworth Quinn was a member of the Wolverine and Michigan State Bar since 1974 and was an attorney for the City of Detroit at one time. In 1982, he was elected to the 36th District Court, later he was elected head judge. He was a member of the Detroit Board of Education, the Detroit Commission of Community Relations, New Detroit, and many other groups. He stayed very involved in the community. He was known to have an active interest in helping the black community in Detroit. In January 1990, he committed suicide. He was 46 years old. His funeral was attended by family, friends, and many 36th District Court staff. Many that knew Judge Quinn personally say that the passings of his father and two close friends of his in 1989, and the suicide of a girlfriend in 1984 may have led to his suicide. When I read about his girlfriend's suicide, I decided to get to researching her, as well. I find this article from May 6, 1984 (part 1, part 2, part 3) about Lisa Likely, a 23-year-old second-year law student who had met Judge Quinn at court when she was a student attorney, helping with Landlord-tenant issues. Born in 1960, she was academically gifted and worked hard at her studies, often while working two jobs. She was friendly with those she encountered while in school and at work.  Friends and those she was closest to said she had emotional issues beginning when she was a teenager and got worse as she got older. She would act inappropriately, get a hot temper when she did not get what she wanted and attempt to harm herself numerous times, and call the suicide hotline to talk about her problems. When she went to therapy, she would stop when she felt better, then relapse. She committed suicide by jumping from Judge Quinn's apartment balcony in February 1984.  Looking at this article from near 37 years later, it sounds like she was dealing with Histrionic Personality Disorder, in which a person will do nearly anything to be the center of attention, including threatening or attempting to harm themselves to get someone to notice them.  I pray that if you are going through a difficult time, especially in these times, call a friend or the suicide hotline if you are feeling like this world is against you, and you cannot bear it.