Harry Donahue

Harry J. Donahue - member of the Greatest Generation - died at home in Naples, Florida on November 19, 2013. He was 88 years old. Harry was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 6, 1925.

During the Depression, when Harry was only four years old, his father was killed in a car accident, and his mother died shortly thereafter. He and his seven brothers and one sister were sent to St. Paul's Orphan Asylum until his paternal grandmother later adopted and raised them. After high school, Harry was awarded a scholarship to Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie-Mellon University.

In June of 1943, Harry left college in order to enlist in the U.S. Army where he served as a parachute rifleman during World War II. After the war, in July 1945, Harry entered the United States Naval Academy on a Congressional appointment. After graduation in June of 1949, Harry reported for duty on the destroyer Salem (CA-139). He served on the Salem for two tours, when she was the flagship for the Sixth Fleet. In 1951, Harry received orders to report to the Naval Intelligence School in Washington, D.C. Upon completion of training he was assigned to the Armed Forces Security Agency, which later became the National Security Agency, where he served until 1955.

On June 6, 1953, Harry married LTJG Lois Von Hoene of the Navy Nurse Corps., in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After resigning from the Navy in August 1956, Harry began a civilian career at the NSA. There, Harry's assignments included work as the Chief of the NSA Operations Group, Europe and as Special Assistant to the Director. While at the NSA, Harry attended Harvard Business School, receiving a MA in Public Administration from The George Washington University in 1963, and a Ph.D from American University in 1968. Harry left the NSA on early retirement in 1970 and became President of the Callimont Corporation, a Pennsylvania resort development corporation until 1973.

In 1973, Harry moved his family to Alaska where he worked as the Manager of the Greater Anchorage Borough. In 1976, he was appointed by the Governor to be Chairman of the newly created Alaska Pipeline Commission. In 1983, Harry returned to Pittsburgh, where he joined Federated Investors, Inc. as Vice President, Planning. Harry retired in 1992 and maintained his residence in Anchorage, Alaska.

Harry is survived by Lois, his beloved wife of 60 years; and their three sons, Sean (Lake Oswego, Oregon), Michael (West Townshend, Vermont), and Christopher (Bainbridge Island, Washington; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Friends will be received at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street, Pittsburgh, PA on Friday 2-4 & 6-8pm. Funeral Saturday, Mass of Christian Burial St. Paul Cathedral 10:30am. www.freyvogelfuneralhome.com