Bahá’í World/Volume 20/Robert Joseph Quigley
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ROBERT JOSEPH QUIGLEY
1912—1989
Robert Quigley was 19 years old when he first heard of the Bahá’í Faith. He was acting in a show in Washington, DC, when he was offered a ride to his home in New York City by Philip Sprague, a prominent Bahá’í teacher who, as a young man, had met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when He Visited New York. Bob Quigley frequently referred to this j ourney as the turning point in his life.
En route to New York, Mr. Sprague eXplained the Station of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and answered the young actor’s questions. Although he had been raised a Roman Catholic since his birth on 13 March 1912, and he was not consciously seeking an alternative religion, Bob could hardly believe what he heard. As soon as they arrived, he went directly to St. Agnes Church where he and his family had been members for years. He knelt at the altar and opened the Bahá’í prayer book Mr. Sprague had given him, and his acceptance of Baha’u’llah and His Faith was instant. Shortly thereafter he was enrolled as a Bahá’í youth and became very active in teaching, his natural charm and radiant spirit attracting many seekers.
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At 21, he was elected to the New York Spiritual Assembly, and, as the youngest member, served with many of the early distinguished Bahá’ís such as Horace Holley, Philip Sprague, Mirza ‘Ali-Kuli Khán, and others. At this time he decided to give up any aspirations toward an acting career so that he might devote more time to Bahá’í activities. During those early years, he was actively involved with the Green Acre Summer School where he studied with many early disciples of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who would eventually be responsible for the spread of the Faith throughout North and South America and abroad.
In 1941, he married Keith Gettinger to whom he taught the Faith, and they became the parents of Philip James, Kimon Joseph and May Maxwell Quigley. During World War II, he enlisted in the non—combatant branch of the United States Navy where he served for three-and—a-half years. Shortly after being discharged, Bob and Keith started a television production company, which became highly successful over the years.
In May of 1956, Shoghi Effendi gave permission for Bob and his Wife to travel to the Holy Land for pilgrimage. While there, Bob was inspired to join his close friends, William and Marguerite Sears, who were pioneers to South Africa. Within three weeks Bob too was in South Africa, to be joined shortly after by his wife and three Children. They remained in J ohannesburg for over three years, where Bob served as an Auxiliary Board member as well as a member of the National Spiritual Assemb1y of South Africa.
When the Quigley family returned to the United States in 1960, Bob resumed his career in television and his production company reached even higher peaks of success, resulting in several “Emmys”, the prestigious award given for excellence in the television industry. He was elected to the National Assembly of the United States and served for five years. Throughout this period he continued his 1ong collaboration with the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears
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Robert Joseph Quigley
producing audio—Visual material, books, plays, films, and other teaching aids and projects which were used throughout the world. Using his outstanding creativity as a television producer, he was dedicated to advancing the awareness of the Faith through the media.
His enthusiasm and dedication remained constant for over 50 years as he witnessed the Faith grow into a world—wide community, resulting in the dedication of Houses of Worship in Wilmette, Kampala, Sydney, Frankfurt, and Panama, in addition to many world conferences, all of Which he felt privileged to have been able to attend. Many have heard him speak of his unforgettable meeting With the beloved Guardian. He always felt that his Bahá’í life was filled with unlimited bounties.
Bob Quigley passed away on 27 November 1989 and was buried at Ing1ewood'“Cemetery in California, near the grave of Thornton Chase, the first American to embrace the Revelation of Baha’u’llah.
When his physical life ended, the Universal House of Justice cabled the following message:
THE Bahá’í WORLD
DEEPLY SADDENED PASSING DEARLY LOVED ROBERT QUIGLEY. PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL HIS LONG YEARS CONSTANT DEVOTION CAUSE BAHA’U’LLAH DISTINGUISHED BY HIS OUTSTANDING, SACRIFICIAL SERVICES AS PIONEER AFRICA TOGETHER WITH HAND OF THE CAUSE WILLIAM SEARS AND HIS MEMBERSHIP NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY UNITED STATES. HUMOR WITH WHICH HE ENCOURAGED SERVICE AND LIGHTENED BURDENS OTHERS WARMLY REMEMBERED. ARDENTLY PRAYING PROGRESS HIS RADLANT SOUL DIVINE WORLDS. KINDLY CONVEY OUR LOVING SYMPATHY DEAR KEITH AN D FAMILY.
PHILIP O’BRIEN