ELIZABETH "Liz" DONOHUE

DONOHUE ELIZABETH ANN DONOHUE "Liz" 1942 - 2017 Passed away on July 14, 2017 in Washington, DC, following a long and brave battle with cancer, endured with the same kindness, optimism and grace that guided her through an extraordinary life lived to its fullest. Liz is survived by her husband, Thomas; sons, Thomas Jr., Keith (Karen) and John (Stephanie); beloved grandchildren, Samuel, Whitney, Kathleen, John Thomas and Quinna; and brother, Robert Schulz, who remembers Liz as a loving sister and a dear friend. Liz will be remembered not only by her family but by the countless people whose lives she touched. Whether it was through her boundless generosity of time, energy, and resources; her thoughtful advice and counsel; her timeless elegance and grace admired by so many; or the simple words of comfort and support during times of need, Liz's impact on others was always strong and positive. Liz joined this world on April 9, 1942 in Bayside, New York. She was the daughter of Eugene and Clara Schulz, first-generation immigrants who worked hard to get ahead in mid-century America and were rewarded with two adored children, Liz and Robert, and a happy and loving life spent with family and friends in the suburbs of New York City and in South Florida. From the very start, Liz was special. She paired a natural intellect with extraordinary persistence and organization to become an accomplished student, first at Bayside High School and then St. John's University in Queens. She was generous, warm, and kind. She had a radiant smile and carried a perpetually positive disposition. These traits, along with her tremendous loyalty and caring heart, helped Liz make many friends and create very close and enduring friendships throughout her life. Liz met her husband, Thomas Donohue "Tom" at St. John's, and the rest, as they say, is history. Married 54 years ago on June 29 in Bayside, New York, Liz and Tom leapt into a life together filled with love, joy, and adventure, taking them from New York to California to Connecticut and finally to Washington, DC. Along the way, Liz and Tom traveled the world, visiting cities on six continents with their family, friends, and business associates. While Liz often marveled about how a "girl from Bayside" wound up visiting with presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, and world leaders, she always felt her true success in life was the strength and values of her family and the decades long friendships she built with people from every phase of her life. Liz and Tom always considered themselves blessed, as theirs was a marriage filled with unconditional love, mutual respect and friendship, and great happiness. And even as Liz battled leukemia to the very end, she and Tom continued to live life to its absolute fullest and accept their new challenges with optimism, dignity, and as loving partners. Liz taught grade school for several years in New York, taking her passion for learning and using it to help young children in the classroom. She earned her master's degree in educational psychology and later studied accounting. Throughout their marriage, Liz was a valued and indispensable partner to Tom as he rose to a prominent career in Washington, which included stints as the head of the American Trucking Associations and later as CEO of the United States Chamber of Commerce. At Tom's side, Liz befriended many colleagues, board members, administrative staff, and spouses at these organizations where she was universally beloved for her warmth, generosity, and, of course, her radiant smile. As her children became adults, Liz dedicated herself to a life of service for others, particularly the elderly. She provided years of loving comfort and care to her dear mother, Clara, as she reached the twilight of her life. For more than 20 years, Liz was a volunteer ombudsman, supporting and advocating the care related interests of elderly and infirmed patients and their families in nursing care facilities. Liz, with Tom, was also a benefactor of several charitable causes and organizations, including So Others Might Eat (SOME), the Lombardi and MD Anderson Cancer Centers, the Alzheimer Association's Brain Ball, and many others. Liz's greatest charitable endeavors, however, were private and never broadcast and known only to the many families and individuals who benefited from her profound generosity and unconditional support in times of need. Liz was a loving wife, a wonderful and caring mother to her sons, and a devoted - and doting - grandmother to her five grandchildren. She will be sorely missed and dearly remembered by her family and so many friends accumulated and cherished through a lifetime of kindness, love, and service to others. A Mass in celebration of Liz's life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 24 at St. Matthew's Cathedral, 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the Donohue family is requesting donations be made in Liz's memory to So Others Might Eat (www.some.org).In lieu of flowers, the Donohue family is requesting donations be made in Liz's memory to So Others Might Eat (www.some.org).