Vineland Veteran Honored Aboard Battleship New Jersey

Turning 100 recently, Vineland’s legendary John “Junie” Quinesso enjoyed a gracious party held in his honor with many friends and dignitaries on board the decommissioned Battleship New Jersey. The ship has been a tourist attraction since 2001 while anchored at the Camden waterfront and hosts thousands of visitors every year. Quinesso has been a volunteer docent on the ship for 21 years and is an esteemed presence there.

Quinesso is a WWII veteran and dedicated community volunteer. He was born in Vineland and graduated Vineland High School in 1943. He served three years in the Navy in the Pacific Theater as a radioman. While on duty in the later stages of the war against Japan, he was the one who got the message of its surrender and delivered it to the ship’s captain. World War II had ended.

After the war, Quinesso became an accountant and worked more than 30 years as an Internal Revenue Service agent. He retired 43 years ago and, since then, he has been a community volunteer and inspiration in too many ways to count. He is a former president of the Northwest Swim Club and has volunteered weekly for almost 20 years organizing “Rummy with Junie” at the Baker Place Assisted Living Community in Vineland. He visits Veterans’ Memorial School in Vineland regularly and is a docent at the Millville Army Airfield Museum.

Quinesso  was married to the late Rose DiDomenico for 49 years and is the father of John Jr.