Donald Anton Doneff M.D.

Donald Anton Doneff, M.D.

Donald Anton Doneff, MD, age 87, of Maumee, Ohio, passed away peacefully at his home on July 19, 2024. Don was born at Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana on October 23, 1936, to his parents Anton and Mabel (Kurecka) Doneff. His childhood was mostly uneventful, due to the Second World War. His main activities were squashing cans for the war effort and peeling aluminum foil off gum wrappers and cigarette packs.

After grade school, he entered Lew Wallace High School. He was elected Treasurer of the Freshman class and became involved in football and drama. He completed high school in 3 ½ years as he had to work to make money for college.

He continued his education at Indiana University (IU) after declining a scholarship to Butler University. He received his medical degree from IU in 1961 and subsequently accepted a rotating internship from Toledo Hospital.

After medical school, he joined the United States Navy as a Lt. and served two years as the Chief Medical Officer for a squadron of mine sweepers which consisted of a fleet of five ships. His many naval experiences took to him to Hawaii, Midway Island, Guam, Marianas Islands, and the Philippines. He also visited many west coast cities to "show the flag". One memorable experience was the enduring of a typhoon during one his deployments.

After leaving the service, he returned to Toledo and entered general practice in South Toledo. As the population moved south, so did his office, eventually ending up at Arrowhead Family Physicians in Maumee. He loved being in Family Practice and comes from the days of making home visits and even home delivery. He loved delivering babies for over 20 years.

During his career he became involved in many professional and social organizations, including the Toledo and Ohio Academy of Medicine. The accomplishment he is most proud of was serving as the Chief of Staff at St. Luke's Hospital from 1980 to 1982. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees until 1990.

He was President of the local Indiana University Alumni Club and traveled to watch his beloved basketball team when Bobby Knight was coach. He served as the company physician for Johns Manville in Waterville, Ohio for many years and was proud to be a member of the Masonic Order Triad Lodge 708, Scottish Rite and the Hakeem unit of the Zenobia Shrine.

Don married the love of his life, Donna, which proved to be the single most intelligent move of his life. They spent many years traveling Europe and Mexico, gardening, playing tennis and weekly dinner with his special, long-time colleagues and their wives, as well as having three wonderful children.

He is survived by his loving wife, Donna Doneff; son, Todd (Kara) Doneff; daughter, Laura (Craig) Arive; and grandchildren, Ike Arive, Luca Arive, Maria Doneff, Elizabeth Doneff and Anna Margaret Doneff. Don was preceded in death by his son, Steven Scott Doneff.

Visitation will be from 3:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, 2024, in the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant St., Maumee, Ohio 43537. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 W. Central Ave., Toledo, OH 43615, with additional visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Don's name to Tunnels to Towers or the Dixon Center.

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