Leonard (Leonardo) Joseph Dona

Leonard (Leonardo) Joseph Dona passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on September 9, 2024. Leonard ("Lenny") was born in Bolzano, Italy on March 4, 1940. He later moved to New York and then Lakewood, Ohio. He married Linda Dona (nee Muir) then joined the United States Marine Corps where he was a Lance Corporal. While in the Marines, Lenny was stationed out of San Juan, Puerto Rico where he served as a mortar man in the Beirut, Lebanon conflict. After completion of his military service, Lenny became an auto mechanic in Cleveland, Ohio for over 30 years.

Lenny was an avid cyclist and cycled around the entire coast of his beloved Italy as well as many of the coasts of the Great Lakes. For years he was a regular of the Metroparks and Cuyahoga Valley National Park where he would spend many joyful hours cycling.

In addition to cycling, Lenny was a voracious reader and a well-known patron of the local library. The library assisted in acquiring books on tape after he lost much of his sight.

A devout Roman Catholic, Lenny was a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist where he not only attended Mass but also where he contributed a great deal to helping the charitable endeavors of the church.

Lenny met his cherished, and late wife, Kathleen ("Kathy") Ronayne later in life, and they spent over 30 years in wedded bliss. They enjoyed following the stock market closely and traveling the world.

Lenny was a beloved family man who took great pride in his five children and two stepchildren. After their retirement, Lenny and Kathy would spend countless hours with their numerous grandchildren and were regulars at school events, in the school pickup line, and at hockey games cheering excitedly.

Lenny is survived by his large family, including: his siblings George (Toni) Dona and Christina (Patrick) Doran. His children: Arlene Dona, Diane (Charles) Goble, Theresa (Jim) Mabry , Christine (William) Frasher. Stepsons: Christopher (Natalie) Ronayne, and Michael (Bridget) Ronayne. Grandchildren: Chaz (Erica), William III, Hannah, Leah, Antonio (Morgan), Matthew, Audrey, Alana Grace, Joseph, and Bella. Great granddaughters: Marlee, Ilaria, and Giovanna.

Lenny is preceded in death by his wife Kathleen Ronayne. His first wife Linda Dona. His son John (Ernestine) Dona. And, his parents John (Giovanni) and Angelina Dona.

A funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on October 19, 2024 at 10:00 am. Interment will immediately proceed at Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Lenny's name to the Cleveland Sight Center or the Hospice of the Western Reserve that helped care for him.

"May eternal rest be granted unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him"