Marian McQuade
- January 18, 1917
- September 26, 2008
- 91 years
- heart failure
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About Marian McQuade
Marian McQuade, 91, American founder of National Grandparents Day, heart failure.
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60 Seconds Life Story
Marian McQuade was an influential American activist who fundamentally changed how society honors the elderly.
Marian McQuade
1917 – 2008
60 Seconds: Marian McQuade's Life Story
Marian McQuade was an American activist and the dedicated founder of National Grandparents Day in the United States.
Transcript
Marian McQuade was an influential American activist who fundamentally changed how society honors the elderly. Born in West Virginia in 1917, she developed a deep respect for older generations while visiting neighbors with her grandmother. By the 1970s, she began campaigning for a dedicated holiday to encourage nursing home patients to connect with their families. In 1978, her perseverance paid off when President Jimmy Carter signed a bill creating National Grandparents Day. She famously resisted commercializing the holiday, preferring that families celebrate with time and homemade gifts. Throughout her life, she raised fifteen children and remained a tireless advocate for elder rights. Marian McQuade passed away in 2008 at age ninety-one, leaving behind a lasting legacy of family connection and community service.
Play the illustrated life story above, or read the full biography on this page.
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Full Biography
|Marian McQuade (January 18, 1917 – September 26, 2008) was an American elder rights activist from West Virginia, best known as the founder of Grandparents' Day in the United States.
Early life and education
McQuade was born Marian Lucille Herndon in Caperton, West Virginia on January 18, 1917. Like Mother's Day founder Anna Jarvis, she was a native West Virginian. As a child, she often visited elderly neighbors with her grandmother. After graduating high school, she went on to briefly attend nursing school. In 1936, she dropped out of school to marry Joe McQuade, a coal miner, whom she had first dated in high school.
Activism
McQuade's first foray into activism was in 1956, when she organized an event for octogenarians in the state.
After the youngest of her 15 children graduating high school, McQuade focused on helping the elderly. She served on the West Virginia Commission on Aging, the Nursing Home Licensing Board, and the Vocational Rehabilitation Foundation.
For many years, she helped with the Past 80 Party, which was held annually in Richwood, WV. Jim Comstock, editor of 'The News Leader' and the West Virginia Hillbilly, originated the Past 80 Party.
In 1970, she ran for a seat in Congress as a Republican, but was defeated. In 1972, she ran for a seat in the West Virginia Senate, and was again unsuccessful. In 1971, McQuade was a delegate at the White House Conference on Aging. That same year, she was elected vice-chairman of the West Virginia Committee of Aging.
National Grandparents' Day
McQuade began campaigning for a National Grandparents Day in 1970, hoping it would allow nursing care patients a time to connect with their families. In 1973, West Virginia became the first state with a special day to honor grandparents when Governor Arch Moore proclaimed May 27, 1973, Grandparents Day.[citation needed] She continued to push other states to adopt the day as a yearly observance, helped by a group of volunteers who hailed primarily form her church. In September 1978, the White House called her to inform her that President Jimmy Carter had signed a bill designating the Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day beginning in 1979.[citation needed] Throughout her campaigning, McQuade remained adamant that the day be focused on homemade gifts and family time, rather than commercialism; at one point, she turned down royalties from a company selling Grandparents Day cards.
In 1989, the United States Postal Service issued a tenth anniversary commemorative envelope bearing the likeness of Marian McQuade in honor of National Grandparents Day.
In her later years, McQuade launched a website for National Grandparents' Day
Later years and personal life
She later lived in Oak Hill, West Virginia with her husband, Joe McQuade (1915–2001). She died from heart failure at a nursing home in Oak Hill on September 26, 2008, at age 91.
McQuade had 15 children and 43 grandchildren.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_McQuade
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 28, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Marian McQuade's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the birth name of Marian McQuade?
- A.Marian Joe McQuade
- B.Marian Arch Moore
- C.Marian Lucille Herndoncorrect
- D.Marian Anna Jarvis
Marian McQuade was born Marian Lucille Herndon in Caperton, West Virginia.
Source: Early life and education
2.In what year was Marian McQuade born?
- A.1910
- B.1936
- C.1921
- D.1917correct
The biography states that Marian McQuade was born on January 18, 1917.
Source: Early life and education
3.Who did Marian McQuade marry in 1936?
- A.Jimmy Carter
- B.Arch Moore
- C.Jim Comstock
- D.Joe McQuadecorrect
In 1936, Marian McQuade dropped out of nursing school to marry Joe McQuade.
Source: Early life and education
4.What was the profession of Joe McQuade?
- A.Nursing home administrator
- B.Coal minercorrect
- C.Postal worker
- D.Senator
Marian McQuade married Joe McQuade, who was a coal miner.
Source: Early life and education
5.In what year did Marian McQuade organize her first event for octogenarians?
- A.1973
- B.1970
- C.1972
- D.1956correct
Marian McQuade's first foray into activism occurred in 1956 when she organized an event for octogenarians.
Source: Activism
6.How many children did Marian McQuade have?
- A.20
- B.12
- C.15correct
- D.10
The text confirms that Marian McQuade had 15 children and 43 grandchildren.
Source: Later years and personal life
7.Which organization did Marian McQuade serve on as a member?
- A.The Presidential Advisory Council
- B.The West Virginia Commission on Agingcorrect
- C.The Congressional Health Committee
- D.The National Post Office Board
Marian McQuade served on the West Virginia Commission on Aging.
Source: Activism
8.Who originated the Past 80 Party that Marian McQuade helped with for many years?
- A.Jimmy Carter
- B.Jim Comstockcorrect
- C.Joe McQuade
- D.Arch Moore
Jim Comstock, editor of The News Leader and the West Virginia Hillbilly, originated the Past 80 Party.
Source: Activism
9.In 1970, for which political position did Marian McQuade run?
- A.Governor of West Virginia
- B.West Virginia Senate
- C.A seat in Congresscorrect
- D.Mayor of Oak Hill
In 1970, Marian McQuade ran for a seat in Congress as a Republican but was defeated.
Source: Activism
10.Which Governor proclaimed the first state-level Grandparents Day?
- A.Jimmy Carter
- B.Arch Moorecorrect
- C.Jim Comstock
- D.Joe McQuade
In 1973, Governor Arch Moore proclaimed May 27, 1973, as Grandparents Day in West Virginia.
Source: National Grandparents' Day
11.What date was officially proclaimed as the first state Grandparents Day?
- A.May 27, 1973correct
- B.September 26, 1973
- C.January 18, 1973
- D.Labor Day 1973
Governor Arch Moore proclaimed May 27, 1973, as Grandparents Day.
Source: National Grandparents' Day
12.Which U.S. President signed the bill establishing National Grandparents Day?
- A.John F. Kennedy
- B.Jimmy Cartercorrect
- C.Arch Moore
- D.Ronald Reagan
President Jimmy Carter signed a bill designating the Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day.
Source: National Grandparents' Day
13.What did the United States Postal Service issue in 1989 to honor Marian McQuade?
- A.A postcard series
- B.A commemorative envelopecorrect
- C.A commemorative stamp
- D.A official portrait
In 1989, the United States Postal Service issued a tenth anniversary commemorative envelope bearing the likeness of Marian McQuade.
Source: National Grandparents' Day
14.What was the cause of death for Marian McQuade?
- A.Heart failurecorrect
- B.Pneumonia
- C.Cancer
- D.Old age
Marian McQuade died from heart failure at a nursing home in Oak Hill.
Source: Later years and personal life
15.At what age did Marian McQuade pass away?
- A.91correct
- B.86
- C.80
- D.95
Marian McQuade died on September 26, 2008, at the age of 91.
Source: Later years and personal life
16.Where was Marian McQuade living at the time of her death?
- A.Oak Hill, WVcorrect
- B.Caperton, WV
- C.Washington, D.C.
- D.Richwood, WV
Marian McQuade lived in Oak Hill, West Virginia, where she also passed away at a nursing home.
Source: Later years and personal life
People who died on September 26
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