Vigil To Honor Life Of Middletown State Rep. Quentin ‘Q’ Williams

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The Middletown community will honor the life of State Rep. Quentin “Q” Williams with a vigil on Friday night, Mayor Ben Florsheim announced.

Williams was killed in a crash with a wrong-way driver on Route 9 in Cromwell early Thursday morning, according to Connecticut State Police.

Williams, 39, was a Democrat who represented Middletown in the 100th District. He was one of two drivers killed in the crash.

The vigil will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6 on Middletown’s South Green (corner of Main Street and Pleasant Street). All are welcome, Florsheim said.

As the community mourns Williams’ death, Middletown Superintendent of Schools Alberto Vazquez Matos has activated the school district’s crisis teams. Each team is made up of professionals trained to help with the needs of students, parents and school personnel during difficult times, he said in a message to the school community.

The teams will be in place through the end of the week.

Williams was a lifelong Middletown resident, who attended Middletown Public Schools and graduated from Middletown High School in 2001.

Williams had a “particular buoyancy about him,” according to a news release from the school district.

“Seldom without a smile, he was genuinely upbeat, personable, and exceptionally funny,” officials wrote in the release. “Rep. Williams worked tirelessly to advocate for our community, especially our youth.”

Vazquez Matos said Williams’ death is “an unfathomable loss for our entire community and state.”

“Representative Williams served Middletown, especially our youth, with a sense of urgency,” he said. “He knew, just as many of us do, that it is our youth who need love, resources, and time poured into them in order for us to build the future that we all dream of. Representative Williams will be forever missed.”

Board of Education Chairwoman Deborah Cain said she was “absolutely stunned by the loss of a dear colleague and friend” in Williams.

“This is a great loss for the State of Connecticut and the great city of Middletown,” Cain said in a statement. “He was a true public servant and devotee of his community. His zeal and advocacy for residents of Middletown and those throughout the state was exceptional. He was passionate about education, thoroughly supported the students of Middletown, and volunteered throughout the district. To many, he was a brother and a mentor, always encouraging others to push through adversity. ‘Q,’ your smile and presence will be missed. Special condolences to the Williams Family. Rest well, my friend.”