![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/feargalQuinnSuperquinn_large.jpg\")
Superquinn founder and politician Feargal Quinn has died, aged 82.<\/p>\nSuperquinn founder and politician Feargal Quinn has died, aged 82.<\/p>\n
He passed away peacefully at his home in Howth, Co Dublin, after a short illness.<\/p>\n
Mr Quinn established the Superquinn chain of supermarkets in 1960 and served as a Senator from 1993 to 2016.<\/p>\n
The former Senator is survived by his wife Denise, their five children, and 19 grandchildren.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Quinn family said: “First and foremost Feargal was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, and brother.<\/p>\n
“To everyone else who knew him, he was an ebullient businessman, entrepreneur, innovator and former Senator.”<\/p>\n
Superquinn was sold to the Musgrave Group in 2011, who rebranded the remaining stores as SuperValu in 2014.<\/p>\n
Mr Quinn also presented the RT\u00c9 TV series ‘Feargal Quinn’s Retail Therapy’.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really sad day for the nation and for his family,\u201d said Minister for Transport Shane Ross on RT\u00c9 Radio.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis man was an icon. I\u2019ve always described him as \u2018The best president Ireland never had\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite his great wealth and incredible success he related to everybody. Customers and staff loved him. He was so absolutely genuine in his beliefs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a cut above all of us politicians. He got on with his job, he didn\u2019t get involved in spats.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was never flash just generous, he was a superb listener, something very special.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was one of the great marketers, he found out what the customers and what staff were thinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a very genuine and easy person to deal with. His word was his bond.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Quinn was presented with the Philanthropist of the Year Award earlier this year in recognition of his charity work.<\/p>\n
Former T\u00e1naiste Michael McDowell said: \u201cPeople shouldn\u2019t consider that niceness made him a fluffy person, he was very strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe made it his business to know his staff and to know his customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t take his Senate salary, he donated it to charity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile he was recognized as someone who was kind and gentle in his dealings with people, he was very firm in his opinions.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was conservative in his moral outlook, but not in his ambitions for Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the consummate gentleman. All who had dealings with him will remember him for his kindness and ability.\u201d<\/p>\n
Businessman Ben Dunne said: \u201cFergal Quinn made a difference, he brought in a thing called customer service.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had an ability to sell cheap because he was a good retailer. He made sure everything was right for the customer.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was kind, but he was also ruthless. He was nobody\u2019s fool. He kept that family feeling in business.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe came from humble beginnings, he went from nowhere to matching the big operators.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was very competitive on price and was very fair to the people who worked for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a great businessman and a great Irishman.\u201d<\/p>\n