Dr. James Moffat "Jim" Donnell

1932 - 2011

GORHAM – Dr. James "Jim" Moffat Donnell died Friday evening, June 17, 2011, at his home in Gorham at the age of 79.
He was born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of James M. and Ruby Donnell. James is survived by his devoted wife, Jean A. Donnell.

Dr. Donnell graduated from McGill University with a bachelor's of science, honors, in biochemistry at the age of 19 and attended the McGill School of Medicine, graduating in 1955 with a gold medal in pediatrics. Dr. Donnell was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Canada. He completed resident training in internal medicine, pathology, surgery and research in McGill-affiliated teaching hospitals, in England, and at the University of Edinburgh with Sir Stanley Davidson.

In October 1964, Dr. Donnell joined the medical staff at the Hospital St. Louis in Berlin and taught at Hospital St. Louis School of Nursing. He was responsible for the first transverse incision for a Caesarean section in northern New Hampshire (less disfiguring than a vertical incision); introducing esophageal and colonic flexible endoscopy; purchasing the first laparoscope for the hospital; performing the first peritoneal dialysis; and using the first Bateman hip prosthesis.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Donnell often spent two- to five-week periods in Iqualuit, Baffin Island, in the Canadian Arctic, as a visiting surgeon, where he flew to Inuit communities to provide medical surgical care.

Dr. Donnell was still an honorary member of the medical staff of the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin at the time of his death.

Jim Donnell was a very wise, gentle, caring and kind physician, son, brother, husband, father and friend. He appreciated and fully enjoyed life, with the soul of an artist, and the heart of a boy. He held a deep concern for all living creatures and devoted his life to continuous learning. He is much loved, and will be greatly missed.

In addition to his wife, Jim is survived by his children; daughters Jessica M. Donnell and life partner Tom Rousseau of Acton, Maine, Jean Anne Donnell of San Francisco, Calif., and Irene M. Donnell of Intervale. Jim is also survived by his sister Irene M. Slater and husband, John; sisters-in-law, Rep. Mary Stuart Gile and husband, Robert H., of Concord, and Katherine I. Clancy of Palo Alto, Calif.; six nieces and two nephews.

Jim was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Dr. Thomas P. Clancy of Palo Alto, Calif.

A gathering of family, colleagues and friends will be held at the Town & Country Motor Inn in Shelburne on Sunday, June 26, 2011, from 4 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim's memory to the charity of your choice.