Chinese Community Leader Quin Dies

Joseph Quin, a businessman and longtime leader in San Diego’s Chinese community, died of an apparent heart attack Sunday. He was 72.

Quin’s was one of the first Chinese families to settle in San Diego. He devoted his life to maintaining the local Chinese heritage established by his grandfather, Ah Quin, who came to San Diego in 1879.

After retiring from the family produce business in 1987, Quin became involved in preserving a downtown area south of Market Street, once known as San Diego’s Chinatown. He fought to save 11 of Chinatown’s remaining buildings from condominium development, and was successful in getting the city to designate the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Building, at 3rd Avenue near J Street, a historical landmark.

The preservation of this building was a personal victory for Quin, family members said, because he was born and raised in living quarters on the top floor and ran the family business from the second floor. More recently, the building served as the Chinese Social Service Center.

Quin was born in 1917. After graduating from San Diego High School in 1935, he went into the produce business started by his grandfather. For 50 years, he distributed wholesale and processed foods to local hospitals and restaurants.

Quin is survived by his wife of 33 years, Yvonne, and their three children, George, Madeline and Jacquelyn, all of San Diego. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Garden Chapel of the Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent to the Chinese Historical Society, the San Diego Historical Society or Chinese Evangelical Church.