John P. "Jack" Donahue

John P. Donahue
(September 6, 1929 - February 16, 2025)
John "Jack" Donahue passed away peacefully on February 16, 2025, at 95. A long time active citizen of Arlington, MA and for the last sixteen years a resident of Newton, MA.
Jack was the oldest son of Patrick and Margaret Donahue of Boston and a loving brother to Mary (Mim) Matheson, Margaret (Peg) Craig, Patricia (Patsy) Terry, Robert (Bob) Donahue, and Ann Marie Donahue-Wright, all of whom predeceased him. Jack was also a loving father of Mark L. Donahue & his wife Janet of Northborough, John P. Donahue Jr. & his wife Karen of Burlington, David C. Donahue & his wife Kathleen of Arlington, and Brian Donahue & his wife Linda of Essex Junction, VT. He also loved his role as grandfather to 11 and great-grandfather of five.
Jack fit a lot of life into his 95 years. From humble beginnings as the first son of Irish immigrants living on Williams Street in Jamaica Plain and summers on Barker Road in Scituate, serving his country with a tour of duty on the USS Missouri, graduating from Northeastern University, and enjoying a long and fruitful life. He married Jean Carragher in 1953, and they shared their lives and raised a family together for 53 years. Early in their marriage, Jack pursued a law degree at Boston College at night, and with Jean's help in managing and typing up all his notes, he graduated and passed the bar. After losing his first love, Jean, in 2006, Jack was fortunate to find a second love of his life, Nancy (Anderson) Donahue, who predeceased him in May 2023. Their relationship was full and powerful. They traveled the world together - going off for months on adventures across oceans and over continents. Nancy brought Jack into her Newton community. The two were perfect partners, sharing a love of art, theater, music, and travel.
Best known perhaps for his countless hobbies and interests, Jack was committed to active fun. Whether it was a few games of tennis ("3 more!"), a day skiing in the White Mountains, hiking around Franconia Notch, sailing on Boston Harbor or delivering a charter to the Caribbean, or building his latest woodworking project in the barn at Pinecrest, Jack was curious and would commit fully to a pursuit. He took on the same commitment when it came to helping others through his public service as a Selectperson in Arlington, a long-time member of the Minuteman Vocational School Committee, Solutions at Work in Cambridge, or with the organization he helped found, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. Jack could be considered a zero-to-sixty kind of guy regarding fun or service to others. Jack was also a friend of Bill's, and on December 7, 2024, he celebrated his 50th anniversary. In these years, Jack supported and counseled hundreds who were looking to find their way forward. Jack's 50 years were very important to him, and his importance to so many during that time cannot be overstated.
Jack was an attorney, and, at one time, he maintained a law office on Milk Street in Boston, but his professional career was focused on MIT. He joined the Accounting Office right out of college, participated in the launch of the MITRE Corporation and Stark Draper Laboratories, and oversaw MIT Lincoln Laboratories for over a decade. He retired in 1995 as Associate Comptroller. He briefly left MIT in 1969 when Governor John Volpe appointed him to the new Health and Educational Facilities Authority, a precursor to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency.
Friends are cordially invited to join the family during visitation hours of 9:30 AM -11 AM on Saturday, February 22, 2025, with a remembrance service immediately following at 11:00 AM at Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Chestnut Street, Arlington, MA 02474. In lieu of flowers, please direct any remembrance you wish to his caretakers at Good Shepard Community Care, 160 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459