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John T. Donohue of Southampton died on September 3 at Southampton Hospital after a long illness. He was 78.
Born on May 6, 1930, in Woodside, Queens, to Bernard Donohue of County Cavan, Ireland, and Beatrice Frayne Donohue of County Roscommon, Ireland, he attended Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn before entering the Maryknoll Seminary. He left the seminary before being ordained and finished his undergraduate degree at St. John’s University.
Mr. Donohue then enlisted in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Lt. Commander and serving as a specialist in the Underwater Demolition Team, a precursor to today’s Navy Seals. After working in naval intelligence, he accepted a National Science Foundation grant, offered to recruit math teachers, to pursue his master’s degree in mathematics at Boston College.
Mr. Donohue built the Leprechaun Colony Motel and Cottages in Shinnecock Hills while also on faculty at Southampton College during the early years of the institution. He remained active in the Naval Reserves until his retirement
In 1976, Mr. Donohue won the first of two terms as a Suffolk County Legislator representing the 2nd District. He served on numerous committees, founded the Suffolk County Solar Energy Commission and initiated the county’s participation in “Sun Day,” a day devoted to solar energy awareness nationwide.
Mr. Donohue worked to ensure that Suffolk County’s Grabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach remained a productive resource for the community. He was instrumental in establishing Hubbard Park in Flanders and the Rural Health Initiative to provide better health care in rural areas of the county. During his last term he worked to secure county funding to build the new Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays.
From 1980 until 1995, Mr. Donohue worked as a mathematics professor at Suffolk County Community College until his retirement. He served as a lector at Sacred Hearts Church for many years. In addition, he was a longtime member of the Southampton Town Democratic Committee where he served as town chair for a term in the 1980s and remained active until Alzheimer’s prevented his participation.
Mr. Donohue is survived by his wife of 43 years, Irene Donohue of Southampton; three daughters, Irene and her husband Rick Sobrevinas of Southampton, Megan Donohue of Washington, D.C; Alison and her husband Dan Lockard of Virginia; two sons, John Paul Donohue and his wife Diane of California, and Michael of California; and eight grandchildren, Ricky, Makiya, Noah, Ashleigh, Emily, Erinn, Henry and Jack.
He is also survived by two sisters, Anna and her husband Charles Fritz of New Jersey, and Winifred and her husband James McDowell of Long Beach; a brother, Matthew and his wife Adelaide Donohue of Southampton; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins from the United States and Ireland.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Patrick Bernard Donohue, and a nephew, Martin Fritz.
A memorial mass will be held on September 20 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Hearts Church in Southampton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers, East End Hospice or the Town of Southampton’s Adult Day Care Program would be appreciated by the family.
on Sep 8, 2008