Quinn died on the evening of Christmas Day following a fall precipitated by a heart attack while he was out delivering Christmas cards with his wife, fellow Tameside councillor Susan Quinn, on 23 December.
As well as leading Tameside Council, Quinn chaired the Greater Manchester Pension Fund and was a leading advocate for the devolution agenda. He had chaired the LAPFF since 2013.
In a statement, Tameside Council said: “At times of great challenge when clarity of leadership was required Kieran never shied away from the tough decisions.
“Whether astutely guiding Tameside Council through the most difficult period for local government in living memory, ensuring the GMPF grew into the largest most successful pension fund in the UK against the wider trend of pensions shortfalls or fighting to reduce the north south economic imbalance now widely recognised through the Northern Powerhouse agenda, he always stood up and provided the necessary leadership.”
It added that his death left a “huge gap” in public life in the area.
Labour MP Angela Rayner, whose Ashton-under-Lyne constituency falls within Tameside, said Quinn’s death was “devastating news”.
She tweeted:
Devastating news, Kieran was a real friend to me and many more. During the last general election he was my agent, my mentor and most of all my friend. Our thoughts now with his wife Sue and the boys Liam and Matthew. R.I.P. Kieran https://t.co/nvy2yjULsr
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) December 26, 2017
Quinn leaves his wife Susan and two sons.
