Quentin Williams, a 39-year-old Democratic state representative from Middletown who was killed by a wrong-way driver, was remembered at the state Capitol Wednesday.
Williams’ family members honored the lawmaker with a special procession from his home in Middletown to the state Capitol. A hearse carrying Williams paused at the Capitol complex for three minutes, in honor of the three terms Williams was elected to serve.
Williams died last Thursday morning when a wrong-way driver crashed head-on into his vehicle on Route 9 in Cromwell as he returned home from the governor's inauguration ball, state police said. The crash happened just hours after Williams was sworn in to a third term. The other driver also died.
Speaking on Connecticut Public’s Where We Live, Rep. Christopher Rosario (D-Bridgeport) remembered the late lawmaker who was known to many as “Q.”
“That big smile. That enthusiasm. That energy that he had,” Rosario said. “He was looking forward to chairing the Labor Committee. And to find out that he was just so suddenly gone, it really was heartbreaking.”
Rep. Bobby Gibson (D-Bloomfield) remembered Williams as a lawmaker who was easy to talk with – and eager to get things done.
“Rep. Williams was very passionate,” Gibson said. “Extremely passionate. He was truly a lawmaker for the people.”
Rosario recalled Williams’ “infectious laugh” and said the lawmaker “left a trail of smiles everywhere he went.”
“You could be having the worst day in the world. You run into Q for two minutes: You just want to bottle that up,” Rosario said. “Q, literally, just lit up your heart. Lit up your soul.”
A private funeral service is scheduled for Williams Saturday, Jan. 14, in Middletown. A public remembrance will be announced at a later date.
Connecticut Public Radio's Frankie Graziano contributed to this report.
