Richard Donnelly Jr.

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Clayton High School Washington University

Richard Donnelly Obituary

Donnelly, Jr., Richard Captain Dick Morrill Nov. 10, 1926 - June 6, 2011 Beloved father of Lisa Donnelly-Knapp (Marc), Jana Colten (Peter) and the late Jeffrey Scott Donnelly (Mary Beth); dear grandfather of Ryan and Katy Donnelly, Evan, Josh and Sean Colten. Dick was a graduate of Clayton High and Washington University and served in the Army during WWII. He was a gifted artist and writer who founded Donnelly Advertising. A lifelong member of The Racquet Club, known as The Legend, he was an avid squash player, Also surviving is his former wife, Shirley, loving caregiver throughout his illness; dearest friend of Gail Donnelly, Julie Henderson, Don Wachter. Donations are appreciated to: Angel Acres Animal Rescue, c/o Lisa Knapp, 135 Barbee Lane, St. Louis, MO 63146 or a charity of your choice.

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Published by St. Louis Post-Dispatch from Jun. 10 to Jun. 14, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Donnelly

12 Entries

John Sink

June 5, 2019

Gone....yes.
Forgotten...never!
Replaced...Never!

Marsha Narmont

June 22, 2011

Do I remember Dick? Well, I would have to say I knew Dick better than most people and shared many, many experiences with him.. His three marriages; 3 divorces; 3 children; 3 business partners and Moma.

I worked for Dick for 12 years. He had faith in me and hired me although he did not need anymore employees. All and all I think I proved myself to him and we all lived happily every after. I left Dick and Donnelly Advertising Company to get married and move to Illinos. Dick and I kept in touch and whenever I was in Clearwater we would see one another. Memories... I have so many I cannot begin to share. Dick was so creative. The accounts that Donnelly Advertising had, received 200% of Dick's talent. I am thankful for all the years during and after I left the agency that Dick and I remained best of friends. We were like siblings, knowing so much about one another. I will miss you Dick and pray there is a Racquet Club St. Louis in heaven. My love to he Donnelly family.

Don/Mary Smith

June 16, 2011

Lisa,Marc and The Donnelly Family,So sorry for your lost,may"The Captain" rest in peace. You all are in our thought and prayers.....Love Mom and Don

marybeth donnelly

June 15, 2011

Dear Captain, our Captain,
The first time Dick laid eyes on his first grandson, Richard, he wanted to call him TOJO, because he was born on Pearl Harbor Day. Always a WW2 buff, wasn’t it appropriate that he died on D-day. "D" for Donnelly, of course. The first time Ryan went to Clearwater Beach, he was 3 weeks old. That started a tradition that would last for years. Our family and the Schranck’s spent every Thanksgiving we could at the beach with Dick. He loved to tell all the funny stories from those trips, over and over again. Steve Nance, Dick and I laughed about those days just last year when he was home. Believe me, they were that memorable because they made us laugh like it was yesterday.

We lost Jeff in 2000, and it was hard to return to Clearwater without him. We went back for spring break many times to honor Jeff and to make the Captains’ Day. He loved getting to know Katy and Trisha and welcomed them with open arms to his condo. As long as they didn’t TOUCH ANYTHING! We made sure he had Grouper Reuban’s at Saltwater and Conch Fritter’s at Frenchie’s. He babysat the girls at naptime so we could all go up to the Palms or Rockaway for a break. When we came back, the girls would be wearing one of his hats and serving him a refreshment of some kind-I think it was on the “rocks”. They were 5 or 6 and loved him dearly. He told them Muldey Doon stories at night. He was quite the creative guy.

After Dick’s passing last week, I thought it was the right thing to do for Ryan to go back to the condo one last time to come to terms with his grandfather’s death and to be at the place he would feel closest to him. Ryan is a lot like Dick, holds his feelings inside, needs privacy to let his inner self let go. When he told me tonight that he gathered some sand and shells from the beach for Katy and I , I have never been so proud of him! Unfortunately, Katy has had a commitment that we could not break, or we would have been celebrating his life together in Arizona with all of you.
Shirley, thankyou for reading this for the kids and I at the ceremony. Thank you, Jana and Peter for everything you did to make Dick comfortable in his last days with us all. We Love you and I promise we will stay together as a family.

Rest in peace Dick and give Jeff our love,

Mary Beth , Ryan and Katy

June 15, 2011

I am so sorry for the loss to his children, his grandchildren and his entire family.
Mary Carpenter

June 15, 2011

Our hearts are very heavy today for all of you. There's simply no way to get around the loss of such a great guy!

Dick was to us, first and foremost, a very special friend, and then all the gravy on top--our mentor, our perfect grammarian, our St. Louis and world historian, our indefatigable, quick-witted humorist, and a fabulous member of the "greatest generation" of our country...soldier, patriot, citizen, and successful entrepreneur.

We asked our 13 year-old how she would describe The Captain, and she replied he was a man before his time (green) who loved the sea...

The Captain was Trisha's primary resource for her first marine research project; he not only did an extensive interview with her, but also took her to The Clearwater Beach Marina where he volunteered, and took all the time she needed to complete her research. Dick always took the time to test, question and encourage each of us to strive to achieve our full potential.

We are extremely thankful to have spent so many years, special occasions and vacations, especially the long beach walks and feasts over the Thanksgiving Holidays, with our beloved Captain--Thanks for sharing him and letting us feel like part of the family!

Love you guys,
Stephen , Nance and Trish.

Steve Toben

June 11, 2011

My deep and sincere condolences to the Donnelly family. I fondly recall happy childhood times with Uncle Dick, Aunt Shirl and my cousins. Your family has been present for the life passages in the Toben family, and we stand with you now in this time of great sorrow.

Gail Donnelly

June 10, 2011

Dick is my first husband.I can't remember why we divorced,but he has remained one of the most loving,gracious,smartest man I've ever known.I thank God every day, for letting me know him.

John Rolwing

June 10, 2011

I remember Dick so well at the Racquet Club...he had an almost daily seat at the "members" table...his knowlege and great jokes were legendary, and I certainly missed his presence when he left town...Tweedledee and Tweedledum are with him and God is getting a good Donnelly sales pitch.
Condolences to the family, and our prayers are included.

Lisa Knapp

June 10, 2011

Dad passed away in Scottsdale, AZ. as my
sister, Jana, and her husband, Peter, had
been caring for him the past couple months. He will be buried in a veteran's
cemetary there w/ full military honors and 21 gun salute this comming Monday.
We are planning a memorial for later this summer or fall and hope to be able to use the Racquet Club of St. Louis.
God bless everyone for their condolences.
Lisa Donnelly-Knapp
[email protected]

Lisa Donnelly-Knapp

June 10, 2011

So many good times, such a good friend. The good memories would fill a a book, no bad memories. He will always be "the Legend" to me.

Some say you cannot have too much fun, Dick and I tried and occasionally succeeded.

My condolences to every family member and friend, one of a kind has left us..

John Sink

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