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Dear Neighbor,
I expected a much different update to share with you this week as we held Opening Day and the joy of being in session was palpable. But, as you probably heard, the Connecticut General Assembly lost one of its brightest lights this week with the unexpected death of Representative Quentin "Q." Williams.
Below are my thoughts on Q and his legacy to all of us. This evening, we will gather in Middletown to remember him. For those of you who can, I hope you will join us. Either way, I hope you will keep his wife, Carissa, and his mother, Queen, in your thoughts as they grieve their beloved.
He was killed in a wrong-way crash, and while we may not know all the details, I hope that as you are going about your weekend, you drive a little more slowly, a little more carefully, and remember that getting somewhere a little faster is never worth what his family is now going through.
Be well,
Eleni
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Remembering My Friend and Colleague, Q
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I first met Rep. Quentin “Q” Williams when I was managing then- Rep. Derek Slap’s campaign for Senate. Q came to make calls for Derek (because of course he did) and when Derek told him I lost my race in 2018 by less than one hundred he said, “Don’t worry, sister, we’ll get you elected in 2020.” He then went on to make calls for me in 2020 (because of course he did).
There are very few people in the world that are made of light, that are joy on legs, that have been to dark places and seen bad things, and who walk in endless optimism and hope. That is our brother, Q. Brilliant. Talented. Funny as hell. Your best cheerleader. Honest to your face. Significant. Substantial. Superlative. He carried many titles. Husband. Son. Teacher. Representative. Friend.
My first session, as my office seemed to become the COVID class freshmen dorm when we went late, Q would walk down to my office, posture perfect, in his beloved crocs, to talk legislation and mostly to keep us awake with stories and laughs that ended in tears and sore abs. Again, Q brings the light, the joy, the brilliance.
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Prior to becoming the Housing Committee Chair, Q sat two seats away from me in the chamber. We used to joke that was definitely going to be a problem for Rep. Meskers, who sat between us as we were definitely going to talk over him.
If you want to get in “good trouble” in the building, Q is the one you want to do it with. Always thinking, always reaching for the next best idea or concept.
He would see me and say, “How are you, my sister?” It would give me such a lift in my day to know he was really asking (because of course he was) and he really wanted to know (because of course he did). We talked at length about how hard this job really is, and the things we wish people outside the building understood. And, how lucky we were to get to do this job. How much work we have ahead of us and what fun it will be.
Q was the best of us. Always going to a conference to learn more. Always telling us to come with him. Always making sure we’re ok. There was no halfway with Q. His compassion, his empathy, his ability to mentor and to lead and to shine, I keep thinking of more words and none of them could be enough.
He spoke often of his wife, Carissa, and his amazing mom, Queen. These women were guideposts for him. It was a blessing to hear him speak so lovingly of them and what they meant to him. I am holding them in my prayers today.
It's honestly unfathomable that I am writing this as a memorial to you. You are my brother; you are a brother to us all. Your memory will be eternal because we all will be carrying your mantle, the best among us. Rest in peace and power, Q.
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Sincerely,
Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative
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