John C. "Jack" Donoghue

1929 - 2021

John C. (Jack) Donoghue passed away on September 13 at age 92. Jack was a graduate of Boston College (BA, MA). While at BC he was a member of the track team. Jack received his PhD from New York University in 1977. He was also veteran of the Korean War serving as a Gunnery Officer on a destroyer. He mustered out in 1955.
Jack was a long-time educator who taught for forty years at New York City Technical College (CUNY) in the Department of Social Sciences. Dr. Donoghue was a member of the Faculty Senate and active in the union He was a popular professor who dedicated himself to his students, many of whom stayed in touch with him after he retired. Jack started teaching in 1959 at Danvers (MA) Secondary School where he coached track. He taught briefly at the New Hampshire Technical Institute and Merrimack College before moving to New York City and CUNY.
Following his retirement from full-time teaching in 2003, Jack moved to Charlestown, Rhode Island where he had bought a home after driving through the area in 1995. He became active in the community including writing numerous letters to the editor in local newspapers and a run for the City Council. He was never shy of expressing an opinion especially if he felt the best interests of the community were not being served. Each weekday he met friends at local coffee shops, rotating between a select few including 'the Dunk" and the Corner Bakery. Before the coffee sessions Jack would act as a Lector at St. James Catholic Chapel in Charlestown. He did the morning reading each weekday and treated the attendees to his professorial voice, projected so all could hear.
John Cornelius Donoghue was born January 17, 1929 in Salem, MA. to John Donohue and Catherine Clancy. He grew up in the family home with his brother, James Michael (deceased), and lived in Salem until after college. Jack is survived by two nieces, Kathleen and Jaqueline.
Jack did not want a funeral nor a memorial service. He did support a number of charities, especially those that delivered services to the poor, and provided a monthly contribution to Planned Parenthood. The family asks that if you want to remember Jack, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.