The El Paso Fire Department has confirmed that it received a call of a reported suicide this morning at the Westside home of former El Paso Times publisher and president, Mack L. Quintana.
“We did respond there at 5:30 this morning. It came in as a suicide call,” Fire Department Lt. Mario Hernandez, the department’s spokesman, said. “The police department is conducting the investigation. That’s all I can tell you.”
The Police Department later confirmed that Quintana was found dead in his home on Regency Drive as a result of an apparent suicide, but would provide no further details.
"I was saddened to hear of Mac's death today," said Ray Stafford, publisher of the El Paso Times, in a statement on the paper's Web site. "Our heartfelt condolences go to his family from the El Paso Times family and our sister newspaper, Las Cruces Sun-News. He will be remembered for his Cuban flair and a love for fishing. El Paso has lost another fine man."
Former El Paso Times Executive Editor Bob Moore said, "I'm just absolutely devastated by this.
"I didn't work directly with Mack much, so I can't talk much about professionally. I will say that he was one of the most thoroughly decent people I ever worked with. He always had a friendly smile and he was very supportive of the newsroom's community initiatives."
Quintana, 59, was publisher and president of the Times from 1998 until 2004 when he took over as publisher of the Las Cruces Sun-News where he served about a year.
In 2004, he was succeeded at the Times by Sherman Bodner, who left in 2006.
Dean Singleton's MediaNews Inc., which about that time assumed control of the partnership with Gannett Inc. to run the El Paso Times and newspapers in New Mexico, then named Ray Stafford as president and publisher.
Quintana survived by his wife, Judy, and two children.
Debra Fraire
September 12, 2008
You will not post this because you all are arrogant fools, but remove me from from your e-mail list. How dare you put this up there, even the El Paso Times has a policy of not printing suicide apparant or otherwise. You people are pigs without lipstick!
Rachel Showery
September 12, 2008
Often times, the greatest minds seated above the most tender of hearts cannot endure the pain of living.
My heart goes out to those he left behind.
My heart also goes out for Mr. Quintana for his suffering.
JUANITA REYES DE RAMOS
September 12, 2008
SIENTO MUCHISIMO LO OCURRIDO, ENVIO MIS CONDOLENCIAS A TODO EL EQUIPO DE EL PASO TIMES, DE DONDE FUE PARTE MACK QUINTANA. FUE MI JEFE Y EN EL POCO TIEMPO QUE LE CONOCI, PUDE VER EN EL A UNA PERSONA DE ALTOS VALORES, CON PRINCIPIOS QUE HOY EN DIA YA NO HAY. FUE PERSONA TRANSPARENTE, TRABAJADORA, LEAL, DISCIPLINADO, JUSTO. CUANDO LEY LA NOTA POR INTERNET ME QUEDE IMPACTADA.Y NO SOLO YO, MI ESPOSO TAMBIEN PORQUE EL LO CONOCIO. SOY PUBLICISTA, FUE MI JEFE COMO DIJE ANTES, PORQUE ME INVITO A DESARROLLAR UN CONCEPTO PERIODISTICO DE CLASIFICADO Y OFERTAS.
NO SE QUE LE LLEVARIA A ESE PUNTO PERO SEGURAMENTE DIOS YA LO TIENE EN REPOSO. ABRAZO A SU ESPOSA E HIJOS Y PIDO QUE CRISTO LES ABRACE EN ESTOS MOMENTOS TAMBIEN PARA QUE LOGREN PASAR ESTE TRANCE TAN DOLOROSO. DESCANSE EN PAZ EL SR. MACK QUINTANA-
GRACIAS POR RECIBIR MI COMENTARIO.
Neil
September 14, 2008
Debra Fraire, you may have to give up reading news altogether.
From the El Paso Times, 09/11/2008:
"A former El Paso Times publisher was found dead in his home early Thursday, police said.
Mack Quintana, 59, was found in his home just before 6 a.m., El Paso Police spokesman Darrel Petry said. Quintana's death is being investigated as a possible suicide, Petry said"
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_10438836
janet huebner
September 24, 2008
It is with shock and sadness that I read about Mack's death. ....my heart and prayers are with Judy and their children