Manning Force Stires V has been a contributor to HPP and a good friend of mine for 11 years. Few probably recognize that regal moniker, but if I were to say "Quint" many would spontaneously smile. Quint, meaning "fifth" in French was actually a nickname given to him by his family since dad was Manning F. Stires IV. And the smile that the mere mention of him evokes is most likely due to the fact that when you think of Quint, the first thing that comes to mind is a funny story that he told you or some clever remarks he had made when you were together. Quint was very quick-witted and could size up a situation and dissect it verbally with funny comments, interjected into the conversation.
His humor was contagious, he was rarely in bad mood and even when he was, he would still make light of it and you'd end up laughing together anyway. It seemed that no matter how bad my day was going, a call from Quint would provide relief. "Yo T, it's Quint, pickup! I know you're there. C'mon, pick up, pick up!" I'd hear on the machine as I ran for the phone. He called me "T". Once we got on the phone, the conversation would range from the latest happenings in the hobby, to family, future assignments, and what happened on the latest episode of the Sopranos. Though Quint is known by most as a Texan who decided to move up North to New Hampshire, few realize that he was born in New Jersey and raised in Verona. As such, he was a big Sopranos fan.
At age 48, on October 29, 2008 Quint passed away after battling thyroid cancer for the last few years. For a time he was doing really well with treatment. Of late he had taken a turn for the worse. Not having heard from him for a while, I had called him about three weeks before he passed. We spoke a few times that week, catching up on each other's lives and he was in good spirits.
Quint was a great friend to me and many others in this hobby. He was willing to help anyone with questions regarding their Pontiacs at any time of the day or night, and he had no problem turning wrenches for them. There are few people in this world who are so knowledgeable about Pontiacs, so giving of their time, and so happy to do it. Quint was one of those people and he will be missed.
Donations can be made to an education fund for James and Michael at:
TD Bank North
100 Main Street
Keene, N.H., 03431
attn. Tina McCosker
or in Quint's name to:
The American Thyroid Association
6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 550
Falls Church, Va., 22041.
For the complete tribute, see the April 2009 issue of High Performance Pontiac Magazine