Dr. John J. Donohue

Dr. John J. Donohue, 92, of Danvers, Massachusetts, husband of Ruth L. Donohue, died September 22, 2011. Born in Prospect Park, New Jersey on February 17, 1919 he attended Central High School where he was a top scholar and athlete, winning numerous AAU swimming and diving titles. He attended the University of Maine at Orono, earning BA and MA degrees in Geology. He then went on to Rutgers University earning his PhD in Engineering Geology. A highly decorated combat veteran, his time at the University of Maine was interrupted by World War-II. Enlisting in the United States Army, July, 1942, he was part of the fifth wave to hit the beaches of Normandy on, June 7, 1944. Assigned to the 294th Engineer Combat Battalion, 104th Infantry Division, he was a Combat Unit Commander, fighting inland from Cherbourg up the Cotentin Peninsula and then across Europe. He received a battlefield commission in March, 1945. His active WW-II duty totaled 3 Yrs., 5 Months, 22 days. He then performed 23 years of Reserve Service Active Duty during which he graduated from Army Command and General Staff College, completing his military service holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Family always the first priority, he had a distinguished professional career as a college professor and consulting geologist, often working internationally. His career as a professional geologist spanned the application spectrum at the highest levels, including: petroleum and mineral exploration, environmental geology and marine geo-dynamics. As a consultant to the U.S. Navy, Office of Undersea Warfare, he created and ran a marine research program at the University of Rhode Island that classified ocean floor geo-dynamic attributes and their implications to submarine warfare. As in all of his work, this included a hands-on, field-study component to research. In the process, he became the first civilian to graduate of the Navy Deep Sea Diving School. He was predeceased by his high school sweetheart and wife of 46 years, Ruth Livingston Donohue, infant son, John J. Donohue, III, and daughter, Patricia D. Robbins. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen D. Triebel, son, John J. Donohue, IV, granddaughters, Emily R. Bradley and Claire K. Donohue, grandsons, Donald W. Triebel, David J. Triebel, Nicholas L. Robbins and Patrick L. Donohue, great granddaughter, Madeline E. Triebel, great grandsons, Jacob B. Triebel and Aaron M. Triebel. A private, family funeral service will be held at C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Home, Danvers. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to: the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108, 617-371-1800 www.nechv.org.