NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Patrick Quinn '06 - a courageous and inspirational leader in the international fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - passed away early Sunday morning. He was 37.
 
"Our hearts are heavy with the news of the passing of Pat Quinn. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Quinn Family and with all of the lives Pat touched," said Matthew Glovaski, Iona College Director of Athletics. "What an inspiring and courageous fight. He truly did so much, for so many and fought a good fight till the end. We are all better in this world just for knowing Pat. May he rest in peace."
 
In March 2013, Pat Quinn was diagnosed ALS. He had just turned 30 years old. It was at that point he committed his life to spreading awareness for this unknown disease. He became a strong advocate and organized "Quinn for the Win". The message he spread was that having no effective treatments or cure of ALS was not acceptable. "Quinn for the Win" has held numerous fundraising events to spread awareness of the disease and increase funding for ALS research.
 
In July 2014, the biggest movement in ALS fundraising history began, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Quinn was at the forefront, connecting networks to facilitate popularizing the challenge around the United States and the world. He co-founded the effort with friend Pete Frates, a Boston College alumnus whom he met through their shared struggle with ALS. Frates died peacefully in December 2019 after a heroic fight at the age of 34. The Ice Bucket Challenge has raised a remarkable $250 million worldwide since its launch, directly leading to several important breakthroughs, yet there is still no cure. The many awards and honors Quinn received for his part in spreading the Ice Bucket Challenge only helped brighten the spotlight on ALS Awareness. His five-word acceptance speech at the Webby Awards, "Every August Until A Cure," became the mantra for the ALS community. "The Webby" is award presented annually for excellence on the Internet.
 
A 2006 Iona graduate, Quinn was a rugby student-athlete during his time on campus and continued to the end with his staunch support of the program. In September 2018, Iona athletics dedicated the southwest corner of Mazzella Field as "Pat Quinn Corner." The plaque affixed to the field contains a quote from Quinn:

"Every day I fight. There are two ways to look at adversity. You can take the easy way out and accept it, or you can take the road with real value. You can fight like hell to make a difference. The impossible is only impossible if you allow it to be. Fight the Good Fight and you can Move the World." - Pat Quinn '06 Corner dedication, September 15, 2018.

A member of Iona Rugby's Hall of Fame, Quinn received Iona College's Blessed Edmund Rice Humanitarian Award at the 2016 Board of Trustees Scholarship Award Gala and was honored at the 2019 Goal Club Hall of Fame dinner as the inaugural recipient of the Pat Quinn '06 Courage Award.