About Us – Benson/Quinlan Insurance Agency, Inc

History

The Benson/Quinlan Insurance Agency was founded in 1926 by John Benson and known as "The Benson Agency". The office served as both an Insurance Agency and a Real Estate Agency until 1950 when it became an Insurance Agency only operation. In 1948 John Benson hired Robert "Bob"Quinlan, a young Yale graduate and World War II veteran, to help with the growing insurance business. In 1950 Bob Quinlan was called back into the service for the Korean War and, upon his return in 1952, was immediately reunited with the Benson Agency. Shortly thereafter John Benson retired and Bob Quinlan purchased the Agency and worked there until his death in 2003.

Meet the Team

James P. Quinlan

Jim has been named a Five Star Home/Auto Insurance Agent in Connecticut Magazine's March 2013 issue. The designation is given in partnership with the magazine and Five Star Professional to recognize "a select group representing less than 4 percent of insurance professionals in the area". It is awarded "to service professionals who provide quality services for their clients". Jim joined the Benson/Quinlan Insurance Agency in 1981 after graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a BBA in Finance. Besides managing personal and commercial lines accounts, he is Benson/Quinlan's specialist in life, health, long-term care, and disability income insurance. In furtherance of his specialty, Jim has earned the prestigious designations of Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant from the American College of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where he is currently studying for the designation of Charter Advisor in Senior Living. Jim is an active member of Fairfield County's Notre Dame Alumni Club, where he serves as a school coodinator for the annual Bread of Life food drive for the benefit of our regional homeless shelters. He resides in Trumbull with his wife Donna, and stepsons Jason and Bryan.

Robert F. Quinlan, Jr.

Bob joined the Benson/Quinlan Insurance Agency in 1974 as a salesman. His main focus with the Agency today is Commercial Lines Insurance as well as Real Estate and Insurance Law. He received a B.S. in Finance cum laude from Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1974. He then received a J.D. degree from the University of Bridgeport Law School (now Quinnipiac) magna cum laude in 1983 and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar the same year. While in Law School he received the American Jurisprudence award in Insurance Law. Bob has been active in the local community serving on the Board of Directors of the United Way, Kiwanis Club, Westport Little Leage, Fairfield Soccer Association as well as coaching youth basketball and soccer for over fifteen years. He resides in Fairfield with his wife Carol and three children.

Jenny Vitali

Jenny joined the Benson/Quinlan Agency in 2009. She came to the agency with more than twenty yers of experience as a licensed property/casualty insurance agent working in Old Greenwich. Her focus at the agency includes, but is not limited to, personal lines service and quoting. Jenny and her husband, Chris, reside in Trumbull where they are raising their two children, Julia and Christopher. She is active in working with her children's school organizations and she does handcrafts including cross-stitching and paper crafts.

Marjorie Tucker

Marjorie joined the Benson/Quinlan Agency in 1988 and became a licensed property/casualty agent in 1989. She works with clients on personal lines and commercial lines support such as claims and policy changes as well as overseeing some of the technical aspects of the agency's computer systems. Outside of the office she can usually be seen with a mystery novel in her hands and she volunteers for some of her favorite mystery authors doing projects with social media. Her charitable interests include Reading is FUndatmental, Heifer International and the American Red Cross.