Maurice McQuitty was born on 17th January 1933. He was the youngest of seven children to George and Rachel McQuitty. After time at Ballymena Academy most of his working life was spent in the Library Service. He had spent several years at University in Liverpool to obtain his library qualifications.
In addition to freemasonry his great passions in life were poetry and music and he was a lover, especially, of the music of J.S. Bach. He was an accomplished pianist and organist, and in a different era could have pursued a successful career as a musician.
Maurice was proposed for membership of Patrick Lodge 493 on 23rd February 1971 by W.Brother Thomas Hanna, who incidentally, served as the lodge Treasurer for 35 years. He received his E.A. degree given by W. Brother William McLaughlin, PPGS, at an Emergency Communication on 21st January 1972, and served as the lodge’s Worshipful Master in 1983. In addition he served a number of years as the lodge’s Director of Ceremonies and Secretary and Organist of course. After being invited by the then Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Brother R L Orr, he was installed as a Provincial Grand Organist, and served in that office with distinction from 1989 to 2000. After a period of some 23 years he agreed to take on the office of Worshipful Master again in 2006 and actually completed a further year as Worshipful Master in 2007. He was also an Honorary member of Three Brothers Lodge 775 in Ballymena, and a foundation member of Stalwart Lodge 96, Ballymena. Maurice was a member of Abercorn RAC 149 where he had served as Registrar for a number of years and at the time of his death was a District Grand Chapter organist.
Maurice was not married and had lived on his own since the death of his brother John in 1985. He had moved into a residential home in late January 2019 as he had developed the early stages of dementia and was reasonably content there. He died on 2nd May 2020 after a short time in hospital.
Maurice had many friends in different walks of life. He enjoyed company and conversation and was very knowledgeable on many subjects. He is survived by his brother Arthur and a number of nephews and nieces and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.