Br. Quentin (Gerard) Watson, O.F.M. (1917-2004)
The son of William Watson and Mary (Horgan) Watson, Br. Quentin (Gerard) Watson was born in Ogonnelloe, County Clare, Ireland.
At the age of six he came with his parents to the United States, and settled in Hyde Park, near Boston MA. He attended St. Catherine's and St. Raphael's School and graduated from Boston College High School.
Rather than continue studies at Boston College, he began working to help support his family during the Depression, working in a tannery and in car upholstery, even starting his own upholstery business, "Watson and Auclair."
Moving to Los Angeles after World War II, he made contact with the Franciscan Friars there. He lived and worked from 1952-55 at Serra Retreat in Malibu CA as a candidate for the Order, receiving the Franciscan habit in 1955 at Mission San Miguel, where he made his first profession of vows in 1956, taking the religious name of Brother Quentin.
In the summer of 1956 he moved to Mission San Antonio in Jolon CA, working in maintenance, gardening and care of livestock until 1968. From then until 1977 he cared for the maintenance needs of St. Anthony's Retreat, Three Rivers CA.
For the last 27 years Br. Quentin cared for maintaining the buildings and gardens of his beloved Mission San Miguel, greeting countless visitors with his beaming Irish smile, ringing the Mission bells faithfully every day at midday and evening, a familiar figure to the people of the town.
He died on June 19 at Mission Santa Barbara, where he had moved the previous month because of failing health. He is buried in the Friars' Mausoleum at Mission Santa Barbara. He was 87 years old, and a Franciscan for 49 years.
May he rest in peace.
