John Donohue

John F. (Jack) Donohue Feb. 7, 1923 - Nov. 21, 2010 Jack sailed off in to the sunset peacefully at home in Orinda. Predeceased by his dear parents Jack and Alice Donohue (1992), his cherished wife Margery C. Donohue (2008), son-in-law Lorin Vaughn (2008) and brother-in-law Robert Baxter (2009). Survived by his sister Patricia Baxter, his son Kelly (Charle) Donohue, daughters Katy (Gary) Silverman and Meredith Vaughn, grandchildren Kristin (Tim) Patrie, Jennifer (John) Chambers, Hannah, Tyler and Ryan Silverman, great-granddaughters Julia and Jaden Chambers, as well as other loving extended family and friends. Jack was born in San Francisco and spent his early years with his young mother running around the City. They moved to Mill Valley during his schooling years, where he earned his Eagle Scout at 13, graduated from Tamalpais High and Marin Junior College. He joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor and spent several years in the South Pacific before returning and meeting Margery in Santa Cruz one rainy Saturday while wearing his handsome Navy uniform. They were married in Santa Cruz on September 15, 1946. Jack attended Stanford University where he completed his Bachelor's in Economics and his MBA before starting a 35-year career with Kaiser Aluminum. They made their home in several locations around the country with Kaiser, before landing back at the Oakland headquarters in 1959 and moved to Orinda to raise their three children. Jack retired from Kaiser in 1983, and then served on the boards of Children's Hospital Oakland and Future's Explored in Lafayette over the next 10-15 years. Jack had a life long love of swimming and sailing. He enjoyed swimming in high school, was the team captain his senior year, and enjoyed impromptu races with cousin Ann Curtis. He also sailed from SF to Honolulu several times, first with his sailing buddy Sam Whiteside, and then later with other friends. There was also one trip from Hawaii to Tahiti. But his crowning glory was achieving his dream of sailing solo from San Francisco to Hawaii , which he did in 1989 at the age of 66. In his later years he enjoyed traveling with Marge, several solo trips to his beloved Africa, scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, weekends at their house in Bodega Bay, golfing with his golfing group, visiting with his SIRS friends, and taking his dog Charlie on walks. Special thanks to Ana Hokafonu and Luseane Lefai for their wonderful care giving in the last year of Jack's life. His wish of remaining at home was fulfilled by their constant and loving care. Family and friends are invited to a memorial service to celebrate Jack's life December 11th at 11 am, at St. Stephen's Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda, CA.